More than 70 people fell ill following a party at the Lock Carling Hotel last weekend.
On Saturday evening, the Argenteuil Chamber of Commerce organized its annual special event in the reception hall at the Hôtel des Laurentides. For the main course, 316 participants chose between chicken of the forest, beef scotch or mushroom ravioli.
“We had a good evening, but on Sunday afternoon people started calling and texting me to say they weren’t there. felt Not really. One case, two cases, three cases…after four, I felt something was wrong,” says Marie-Josie Lapierre, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce.
The organizer of the event, which aims to reward entrepreneurs, immediately notified the authorities. An inspector from Quebec’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) went to the hotel in Grenville-sur-la-Rouge to take samples and take temperatures of refrigerators and food.
The Laurentian Department of Public Health sent out a questionnaire to all 300 participants in the evening to identify cases and quantify food poisoning.
“To date, of the 186 respondents, more than 70 have had short-term symptoms similar to gastroenteritis. No hospitalization has been registered with public health,” says Martin Cournoyer, communications consultant at CISSS des Laurentides.
Doubts hang over the scooter
The restaurant at the Lock Carling Hotel has never been criticized for unsanitary conditions, says Luke Hebert, the establishment’s director of catering. “Since Saturday, MAPAQ has visited twice and completed inspection of refrigerators and work surfaces. There was nothing unusual about their experiment.
We question. Did something go wrong with cooking or cooling protocols? Is it something from outside?
Luke Hebert, director of catering for the Lock Carling Hotel
Mr. Hebert added that the investigation was complicated because some of the merchants who attended the evening also offered food for tasting – such as Cretans.
In any case, lab results should allow investigators to determine the cause of the multiple swellings next week. However, there are doubts about the dish of beef scooter with red wine sauce, mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, says Ms.me Stone.
“The big common factor at the moment is the beef scoter,” he explains. “Out of eleven tables, nine people ate the scooter and all of them got sick. The other two chose chicken and they were fine. »
Doubts about the evidence
However, the director of the Argenteuil Chamber of Commerce refrains from pointing fingers at the hotel. She recalls that one supplier may have poisoned many through food.
Mme Lapierre ordered herself a red meat dish, but she was sick. She had no time to savor her food, she says. “I was also having a party, so I only ate two or three bites. After that, I tell myself that it is better to skip the main course,” he said, feeling sorry for the sick gala attendees.
For its part, MAPAQ confirms that the investigation is ongoing. “Measures are ongoing to ensure the situation is well defined and measures have been taken to protect those present,” said Yohan Daler Boyli, the ministry’s public relations officer.
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