Possibly Tainted Thanksgiving Meal Tests Negative For 21 Food-Borne Diseases; Samples Headed To CDC

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA – Four more people report being sickened after eating a Thanksgiving meal at Antioch's American Legion Hall, bringing the number of cases to 21, including three fatalities, according to Contra Costa Health Services.

All of the people who fell ill, including the three who died, developed symptoms within 24 hours of eating the meal, which was prepared by volunteers with the Golden Hills Community Church.

Biological samples tested from the reported cases came back negative for 21 food-borne diseases, including salmonella, E. coli and norovirus, county health officials said Wednesday. Samples will now be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing, which could take months to complete, according to the county.

County health officials said on Wednesday that they don't expect any additional cases to surface.

The new people who reported being sickened after the meal didn't seek medical attention and have recovered.

The three people who died were identified by the county coroner's office as Christopher Cappetti, 43, Chooi Keng Cheah, 59, and Jane Evans, 69. All three were residents at assisted-living facilities in Antioch and all had similar "intestinal abnormalities" that were discovered during autopsies, according to the coroner's office.

Regulators with the California Department of Social Services will be examining the facilities, Minerva's Place and Minerva Place IV, to make sure staff took appropriate steps to ensure the residents received timely
emergency medical care, department spokesman Michael Weston said.

The cause of the deaths and illnesses, which surfaced after 835 people ate the meal, is still under investigation but county health officials said it's likely a food-borne illness.

"Evidence that once pointed away from the meal that we provided to so many, now seems to point back (in) that direction," Golden Hills Community Church officials said in a statement.

Some of the food served at the meal was prepared at the American Legion Hall, some was simply heated up there and some was prepared at the private homes of church volunteers and brought to the dinner, according to health officials.

"Our greatest concern has been twofold," church administrators said. "First and foremost we are grieving for those who have lost precious loved ones and for those who have endured this illness. ... From the time we learned of these illnesses we have been grieving and praying diligently for these families."

"Secondly, we have wanted to hear from the Health Department their determination of the real cause of this illness, regardless of our connection," they added. "Truth will help prevent future occurrences of this type of illness and perhaps keep others from having this horrible experience."

Golden Hills Community Church said it has been established in the Contra Costa County community for more than 30 years serving meals to thousands of people.

Health officials said that anyone who still has leftover food from the church dinner should throw it away immediately.

People should practice food safety at all times, said county health spokeswoman Victoria Balladares.

People should take care to wash their hands thoroughly, keep raw and cooked food separated and properly store ingredients and prepared food, Balladares said.

More food safety tips are posted at the Health Services website http://cchealth.org.

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--Bay City News contributed to this report/Shutterstock image