Tests show turkey did not cause sickness
Observer Staff Report
Tests of nine food samples and seven stool samples from students who became ill after eating turkey at North Dining Hall on Thursday, April 13, showed turkey was not the cause of the sickness, director of Food Services Dave Prentkowski said Friday.
"There was absolutely zero correlation between the turkey in the dining halls and the illnesses the students had," he said. "It did not come from the turkey at North Dining Hall. The tests verified that."
Prentkowski explained that officials who interviewed sick students at Health Services initially found a common link in the turkey. Food services considered food poisoning as the worst case scenario and removed the turkey as a precaution.
But as the week continued, students who had not eaten at North Dining Hall or who had eaten there long after the turkey was removed became ill, and University officials began to doubt that food poisoning was the cause.
"The speculation is that it is just a flu virus," said Prentkowski, who noted that the cause of the illness is still uncertain. A contagious bacterial infection may also have been involved.
Officials are pleased with how the situation was handled, according to Prentkowski, who noted that safety is Food Services' top priority.
All News Stories for Monday, May 1, 2000
