The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) advises consumers of a recall of all prepared food sold at Greenwich Bay Gourmet, in East Greenwich, from Friday, August 1, 2008 through Tuesday, August 5, 2008. Food sold from this establishment may be contaminated with norovirus. Any food that was purchased from Greenwich Bay Gourmet between Friday and Tuesday should be discarded.
The Department became aware of this outbreak when nearly 40 percent of guests at a weekend function became ill. An investigation by HEALTH identified the cause of the illness as norovirus and traced the contamination to the food from Greenwich Bay Gourmet. Greenwich Bay Gourmet has cooperated fully with HEALTH’s investigation. They have discarded all contaminated food and have taken all appropriate actions; however anyone who has food from Greenwich Bay Gourmet that was purchased between Friday and Tuesday should throw it out. Anyone who has consumed food purchased at this establishment between Friday and Tuesday and has not gotten sick does not need to take any further steps.
Norovirus is a common illness. Any food handler, healthcare worker or day care worker who has symptoms of norovirus (nausea or vomiting or diarrhea) should report the illness to their employer, go home and stay out of work for 48 hours. For more information about norovirus, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/disease/communicable/norovirusfactsheet.php.