Thunder Bay Health Unit Shuts Moose Hall Food Production

THUNDER BAY – News – The Thunder Bay District Health Unit have investigated cases of an apparent foodborne illness among 270 patrons of a banquet held at The Moose Hall at 434 Fort William Road on Friday, December 13, 2013.

So far, the Health Unit estimates that 20% of the attendees were made ill. The reported illness was characterized by sudden onset of severe cramping, nausea, vomiting, and in some cases diarrhea. The illness occurred within a few hours of the meal and was short-lived, with symptoms lasting on average 24 hours.

The event was the Christmas Banquet for the one of the First Nations.

Charges Laid

Charges have been laid and The Moose Hall is closed to food production pending the outcome of the investigation.

Food samples are being processed by Public Health Ontario Laboratories in Thunder Bay and Toronto in an attempt to identify a pathogenic agent.

The Health Unit would like to hear from any individual who has not yet been contacted by a public health inspector and attended the banquet at The Moose Hall on December 13. We know that patrons came from Thunder Bay and from out of town, including Greenstone, Dryden, Kenora, and Hamilton.

People who attended the banquet can speak with a public health inspector at 807-625-5930.