CDC Confirms Norwalk-Like Virus Caused Reported Illnesses

Source cited as salads provided by outside supplier

February 20, 2000
Media Contacts:	Dan Kurz                                CDC Contact: Tom Skinner
		HoneyBaked Foods, Inc., Toledo, Ohio                 Press Officer
                [419] 868-6400                                       [404]-639-3286
                

TOLEDO, Ohio - HoneyBaked Foods, Inc., of Toledo, Ohio, a catalog company, has learned from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, that salads prepared and packaged by an outside supplier were the cause of reported illnesses among recipients of special order banquet meals. No food items prepared by HoneyBaked Foods were implicated by the CDC.

According to the CDC report, "Clinical signs of illness in this outbreak is typical of Norwalk-like virus infection with predominantly symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and one to two day duration of illness. The preliminary epidemiological analysis has implicated the salad items as being statistically associated with the illness."

The HoneyBaked Foods catalog company is very concerned about the health and safety of our customers; it is our highest priority. We join our special order customer Daimler Chrysler Corporation in their conscern for the well being of those who are reported to have become ill.

While we are taking this situation very seriously, we stress that this was an isolated incident, pertaining only to recipients of this special order account. This situation did not in any way affect HoneyBaked foods catalog customers or HoneyBaked Ham retail customers. HoneyBaked Ham retail stores have never used this outside salad supplier.

The salad items cited by the CDC were prepared and packaged by a Toledo-based catering service. Based on this information, HoneyBaked Foods immediately discontinued purchasing product from this outside supplier and has no plans to continue working with them.

The HoneyBaked Foods catalog company has been and will continue to cooperate fully with the CDC, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local and state health authorities in their investigation of the illnesses. While we can't go back in time to change this unfortunate situation, our entire team at HoneyBaked Foods of Toledo wishes to express heartfelt concern for those who were affected.

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