Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on November 4, 2023
Several students fell ill last week after eating at the Central Connecticut State University Hilltop Dining Hall. The exact number of students involved in this outbreak and the specific pathogen has not been released.
The investigation is ongoing.
In response, the University temporarily closed the dining hall, instructing students to take meals at the other two dining halls on campus. The Hilltop Dining Hall has since reopened, and the school is directing sick students to the Student Wellness Center for free medical care.
On September 29, 2023 the University issued an update to the students on the school’s website. Central Connecticut State University says that the school’s Environmental Health & Safety Department is working with the City of New Britain Department of Public Health and Sodexo, the campus food service provider, to investigate the cause of the symptoms reported by students to health services.
So far there has been “no unique food item” indicated as the source.
New Britain’s department of public health is continuing the traceback investigation to help pinpoint the source of these campus illnesses. Patient surveys are being reworked to expand on the investigation. According to the University, “there is a group of symptomatic patients who are now in the process of being contacted and tested.” These results, which are expected to arrive next week, will hopefully help investigators get a better understanding of the source of these symptoms consistent with food poisoning.
So far, the common factor appears to be the Hilltop Dining Hall.
Students accustomed to taking meals at the only dining hall on campus that is open late were surprised to find the doors locked. Students were directed to other on-campus dining options.
They were greeted to a note on the door that said:
Hilltop Dining Hall is
CLOSED
9/27 and 9/28
Or until further notice
Please visit Memorial Hall
Or Devil’s Den for meals
We apologize for the inconvenience
The dining hall has since reopened with additional measures in place to mitigate the spread of sickness.
According to the school’s announcement, several additional protocols have been added to mitigate the spread of the sickness and potentially prevent further illnesses.
Preventative activities, such as sanitizing high touch point surfaces like doorknobs and bathroom sinks will be implemented out of an abundance of caution as the investigation progresses.
Many students appreciated that the dining hall was open late to accommodate class schedules that end at 8, 9, or even 10pm. With so many students relying on on-campus meal plans, the Hilltop Dining Hall was very popular due to the expended operating hours. Some students were concerned over its closure.
Others expressed concern over the unconfirmed source. If the issue has not been resolved, how safe is the food on campus? Additionally, all three halls are operated by the same food service company.
Without closure, many students are worried that their next meal will leave them ill.
Students who have developed illnesses consistent with food poisoning after eating at Hilltop Dining Hall are urged to visit the Student Wellness Center at no cost. According to the announcement, “Students who are experiencing symptoms related to nausea, diarrhea, and stomach upset can receive services at the Student Wellness Center. There is NO charge for office visits to see the health care professionals.”
This outbreak comes just weeks after an E. coli outbreak hit a different university campus. So far 37 people have been associated with the outbreak at the University of Arkansas. Laboratory tests confirmed 5 of those cases, 4 of which were sick enough to require hospitalization.
Depending on the type of pathogen you have ingested, symptoms may vary and time periods between exposure and symptoms onset may be different. You may begin to feel ill anywhere from a few hours to several days after consuming a contaminated food.
This illness may last a few days up to weeks with certain complications specific to the pathogen.
For example, E. coli can lead to a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. Salmonella can lead to joint issues, a condition called reactive arthritis. Campylobacter can cause a life-threatening paralysis called Guillain-Barre syndrome. Botulism can cause breathing problems. Listeria can result in miscarriage and still birth. Just about all of these foodborne bacterial infections can lead to irritable bowel syndrome.
However, most food poisoning illnesses have similar symptoms.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common food poisoning symptoms include:
Avoid dehydration from diarrhea or vomiting by drinking plenty of fluids.
Most people can manage symptoms on their own, but you should always seek medical attention if you experience severe symptoms such as:
If you have become sick after eating food from dining halls at Central Connecticut State University and may be connected to the Hilltop Dining Hall outbreak, the school urges you to make an appointment with the Student Wellness Center at (860) 8332-1926.
Know your rights and the responsibilities of those who are liable in your illness by reaching out to an experienced food poisoning lawyer.
Becoming sick from a foodborne illness is an inconvenience at best, and life-threatening or potentially fatal at worst. We trust that the school’s dining halls that are tasked with preparing student’s meals do so with health and safety in mind. When that trust is broken, people can get hurt.
The Lange Law Firm is an experienced food poisoning law firm, specializing in cases of Salmonella outbreaks just like this one. Reach out today for a free consultation to get your questions answered. Call (833) 330-3663 or click here to email for the help you need from a source you can trust.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)