Golden Corral Food Poisoning: As Many As 167 Sick, Causing Customer Backlash On Yelp

A Golden Corral restaurant in Wyoming is suspected of causing a food poisoning outbreak that has caused dozens of people to become sick.

More than 150 cases of foodborne illness have been reported near Casper, Wyoming, and a Golden Corral is suspected as the source of the food poisoning outbreak.

Health officials visited the restaurant this week, giving sanitation inspections and interviewing employees and management, the Star Tribune reported.

“We are doubling down on all of our safety and sanitary procedures that are normally done,” said David Giesen, president of franchisee Golden DBL Inc. of Denver.

Health officials said the Golden Corral food poisoning cases were likely the result of a norovirus.

Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne disease outbreaks worldwide, causing flu-like symptoms, the National Institutes of Health stated. The common effects are flu-like symptoms.

There were widespread reports of vomiting and diarrhea in the area around Casper, and authorities linked the food poisoning cases to a recently opened Golden Corral restaurant there. One customer said that in the buffet line at the restaurant, his plate was dirty. When he looked at a stack of 25 other plates, all were dirty with remains of food.

News of the Golden Corral food poisoning led to a massive backlash on Yelp, Business Insider reported. Some diners turned to the website to air their grievances with the restaurant, painting a picture of an unclean and unhealthy environment.

“The floors were so dirty,” one reviewer wrote, while another complained of “raw, undercooked meatloaf and chicken.”

One of the most scathing reviews came from David M.:

” This was the worst experience I’ve had in Casper. The Bourbon Chicken gave me traveler’s dysentery, and I willingly eat street vendor food in Peru, Mexico and Nicaragua and have never gotten this sick. The point is, I know world class bad food and this is in the top two or three in the world!

The steaks looked OK, but I never got there.

The Chinese was aged, the Italian looked Chef Boyardee-like, and getting ill on first dish was my only saving grace.

I can’t imagine the crew training they get there….maybe it was everyone’s first night.
So say grace and ask forgiveness before you go…”

Officials said they will have final results from lab testing within the week to determine the exact cause of the Golden Corral food poisoning outbreak.