Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Outbreaks & Recalls on November 26, 2024
King County Public Health announces three reports of food poisoning at Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar in Kirkland. Report indicates that risk of infection has passed. However, other unreported illnesses may be included in this outbreak.
Here’s what we know about the food poisoning at Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar so far and what it could mean for you.
King County Public Health reports at least three illnesses have been associated with Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar. While the investigation is complete, other illnesses may be included in this outbreak.
Based on the illness onset and duration of the illness, a fast-moving bacterial toxin is likely responsible for these illnesses. This makes an investigation difficult to pinpoint exactly what made people sick.
King County Public Health was notified that three people became sick with gastrointestinal symptoms after eating at Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar.
All three people had one or more signs consistent with infection with a bacterial toxin. These symptoms included “feeling sick, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.”
Sick people reported eating at the restaurant between October 28, 2024 and November 3, 2024.
Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar
12540 120th Ave NE, Bldg H-12, Kirkland, Washington 98034
Meal Dates: October 28, 2024 to November 3, 2024
Illness onset occurred shortly after.
The only thing these three individuals had in common was recently eating at Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar.
Unfortunately, no laboratory testing data was available for the people who were sick. As with most bacterial toxin sicknesses, illness often starts and ends too soon after eating the offending food. By the time people see a doctor (if they do so at all), it is usually too late to test for the presence of bacteria.
According to the investigation report, some Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar workers had been sick recently. Though no one was sick at the time of investigation.
The report also indicated that there were no signs that workers were the source of customers’ sickness. Though the inspection also did not reveal a potential source.
During the course of the outbreak investigation, King County Public Health performed a site visit at Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar on November 8, 2024 including problems with their handwashing facility and worker health policy.
While investigating the gastrointestinal illness cluster traced back to the restaurant, investigators discovered problems with their handwashing facility. While this is certainly an unsafe food practice issue, this may not have been a contributing factor to those illnesses.
King County Public Health investigators identified deficiencies in Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar worker health policies.
“While the restaurant does not allow workers to work while sick, workers were not asked what symptoms they ad when staying home sick.”
Per local health department policy, some illnesses require a negative laboratory test to return to work. In some cases, there is a minimum wait period before food workers are allowed to be reported to work per those same local health department policies.
These aspects were absent in their existing employee health policy.
In response, King County Public Health used this opportunity to educate restaurant management on ways to fix those problems and guidance for management to check with sick workers about symptoms before allowing them to come back to work.
While this inspection did not reveal unsafe cooling practices while investigators were present, this type of gastrointestinal illness caused by bacterial toxins often arises from this lapse in safety protocols.
King County Public Health also went over “safe cooling procedures for cooked foods, which helps prevent growth of bacterial toxins.
Previous safety inspections reveal trends that could contribute to bacterial toxin growth.
An inspection on March 9, 2022 prompted a warning for improper reheating. This came after a previous warning on October 14, 2021 for the same offense.
Improper heating and cooling starchy foods like rice or potatoes are common sources of bacterial toxins.
Without specific laboratory tests, the exact cause of these suspected bacterial toxin illnesses is not known. However, King County Public Health believes it could be Bacillus cereus or Clostridium perfringens. Two common sources of this type of illness.
This is because both bacteria grow rapidly at room temperature and are often found in some of the foods served at the restaurant. “Meats, rice, leftovers, sauces, soups, and other prepared foods, particularly those that have sat out too long at room temperature.” Something restaurants are vulnerable to without attention to time/temperature parameters being observed at all times.
Food left out too long, rice, leftovers, sauces, and soups are common sources of Bacillus cereus illness. Depending on whether or not the toxin has been produced in the contaminated food prior to consumption or if the toxin is produced in the body after consumption, different illnesses are observed.
If toxins are produced in the food prior to consumption, the unfortunate person usually begins to vomit within 30 minutes to six hours after eating accompanied by nausea.
If toxins are produced in the body after the food is consumed, diarrheal illness consisting of watery diarrhea and abdominal cramps often happens within six to 15 hours of consuming something contaminated.
Illnesses usually resolve within a day.
Beef, poultry, gravies, food left out too long in steam tables or at room temperature are common sources of Clostridium perfringens.
Symptoms usually include diarrhea and stomach cramps. Fever and vomiting are usually not experienced with illnesses associated with this germ.
Most illnesses resolve within a day. However, severe symptoms can persist for up to two weeks.
If you have become sick after eating at Stack 571 Burger and Whiskey Bar in Kirkland and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help!
Our food poisoning lawyers have successfully won millions of dollars in food contamination and product liability cases for families just like yours.
Call (833) 330-3663 for a free consultation. Or fill out our online submission form and someone will get back with you shortly.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)