WBIR.com reports that at least 24 people in Knoxville who attended the children’s charity “Ribs, Rides ‘N’ Rock” fundraiser have been treated at area hospitals for food poisoning.
Health Department officials are investigating how food at the event became contaminated. They say it’s possible an out-of-town vendor or a local grocer is the source, but declined to name them.
Food samples are being sent to the state lab to determine the exact cause of the illness, and people who ate the food and became ill are encouraged to contact their local health department to report their symptoms.
Most of the people treated ate between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. and started getting sick about two hours later.
A Knoxville Fire Department official notified the health department that participants had come to the paramedic unit at the event with symptoms.
Health officials are transporting the suspected pork, chicken, baked beans and coleslaw to a state lab today.