Joyce received the lab results two weeks after making the original line list. She then completed her chart and discovered that many (but not all) of those that were ill had E. Coli O157 (STEC). The sequencing data was sent to PulseNet and it was determined that this small outbreak was part of a much larger outbreak. After much investigative sleuthing which involved tracing the contaminated beef to one wholesaler and then sending in food safety inspectors to the meat processing plant, it was determined that the contamination occurred in a large processing plant in Wisconsin. It was found that the grinding machines were heavily contaminated with the bacteria and were not properly washed and disinfected.This contaminated beef was sold at many grocery stores in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. A massive ground beef recall was announced. Sadly, one of the children died from HUS, but everyone else recovered from this outbreak. The families of the children who developed HUS sued the owners of the meat processing plant and the caterers from the wedding.

Question 4 (10 points): Do you think criminal charges be brought against the owners of the meat processing plant? What about the caterers? Why or why not?