Poisoned Picnic

Pitiporn P.
Thanatcha J.
Nichanan S.
Bhudharhita T.

Food we suspected as a source of illness:

Green Bean Casserole

We believed that the Green Bean Casserole contained a bacteria called

Clostridium botulinum and this bacteria came from canned food which
would have the possibility that it came from a canned cream of mushroom
soup, jars of green beans and canned onions.

We learned that heat can destroy the bacteria but in this case, it was
mentioned that this Green Bean Casserole dish was only baked to warm.
So, the bacteria might not got destroyed thoroughly at this place. Another
possibility was also that before it was served, it didnt get any heating or
baking it again.

C. botulinum spores can be killed by heating to extreme temperature

(120 degrees Celsius) under pressure using an autoclave or a pressure
cooker at for at least 30 minutes.
From our research, we could tell that the
bacteria was not destroy when the teachers
prepared it. It was only baked TO WARM for 20 to
25 minutes. Which, if we want to destroy this
bacteria we must bake it to a very high
temperature and at least for 30 minutes. This
would make the Green Bean Casserole contains
Clostridium Botulinum bacteria. After consuming, it
would grow in the intestines and release toxin
which would cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or
even death.

source: http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=1307

Mr.Peter had nausea, vomiting, and dizziness

Proof:

Mr.Kevin had nausea, dizziness, and disoriented

Miss J have Lactose intolerance and suffered from severe stomach pain.
Mr.Santos became ill
Mr.Mek had stomach cramps and nausea
Mr.Phil had numbness, disorientation, nausea, and vomiting
Miss Tara and her son became ill

Some of the teachers mentioned

above ate this dish have the
symptoms of the bacteria. If
you wonder that some of the
teachers that doesnt ate the
dish also have these symptoms,
we have a explanation for you!

Ms.Sarina had disorientation, vomiting, couldnt remember

Ms.Sophie had abdomial pain and vomiting. Death by respiratory and heart failure.
Mr.Abel had failed to attempt to revive and was death.
Mr.Dan had abdominal pain, headache, and paralysis of extremities. Pulmonary failure to death.
Ms.Zoe was paralyzed and cant communicate. Death by respiratory and heart failure.

From the evidence weve know that Mr.Phil, Mr.Puneet, Mr.Kevin, Ms.Tara,
Ms.Sophie, Mr.Santos, Mr.Dan, Mr.Mek, Mr.Abel, Dr.Alfonso, Mr.Peter all ate the
Green Bean Casserole. Although Mr.Mek and Dr.Alfonso ate a bit of everything,
they still had a problem.
Every victims that died all ate this dish except Ms.
Zoe which she wasnt eating the green bean
casserole but we can assume that she received a
large amount of the bacteria because she was the
second person used the one serving spoon right
after Mr. Dan.

Red represented person that ate a lot of the dish & Blue represent the
person who ate only a bit

How does it spread? Some of the victim that were dead didnt
even ate this dish?

As mentioned in the information sheet given, we can see that it was only one
serving spoon so Miss Tara went to get some more. But before she came back with m
serving spoon, everybody already started eating. Which Mr. Dan was the first person
eating and Mr. Dan ate the green bean casserole and the serving would get contaminat
before anyone else would use it.

Lactose Intolerance
Lactose Intolerance is the condition that cant digest sugar in the milk,
Lactose. As from the information, Miss J suffered from severe stomach
pain but she didnt eat any Green Bean Casserole but she ate the pudding
which contains milk as an ingredient. Therefore, we can pointed out that
Green Bean Casserole isnt the source of Miss Js illness. The reason she
got a severe stomach cramps is because she ate the pudding so her body
cant digest it thoroughly.

source: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestivediseases/lactose-intolerance/Pages/facts.aspx

Examples of the reasons why we didnt

suspect some of the other food:
Baked Beans: Baked beans is made of simply purchased 2 large cans of
baked beans heated on top of stove top to boiling.
Ham: Baked ham for 2 hours 30 minutes until thermometer reads 150 degrees
for 20 minutes.
Corn: 2 large cans of corn heated to simmering.

There are some bacteria we also suspects (but turned out they werent):
Cocci Convicts: The infection of it are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and
often shock within a few hours of eating which matches some conditions of the
symptoms of the teachers. It is often found in ham, processed meats, etc.
Nim Rod: The infection of it are stomach cramps, dizziness, and
vomiting.
E. the kid Coli: came from eating undercooked meat products. Infections
are suffer severe, bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, or maybe also vomiting.
Foul Sal Monella: caused by undercooked turkey or chicken or
contaminated water supply.

How to prevent!
-We shouldnt use the same spoon with many dishes because it will spread
the bacteria.
-We should cook every dish to at least a simmering because it can kill the
bacteria and will prevent those severe symptoms to happen.
-Try to keep all the materials clean.
-Wash your hands before eating at least 20 seconds.
-Avoid leaving food in room temperature for too long. (Freeze it might be
a better idea.)
-Avoid eating canned foods