County axes church’s wild game supper

State health codes won’t allow the public to eat crow, woodchuck at church

The Madison County Health Department shut down New Woodstock church’s annual wild game dinner earlier this month.

Health officials found the Open Door Baptist Church was violating the state Sanitary Code that applies to any event that is open to the public.

The 28th annual event took place without food on Feb. 9. Health Department officials say they attempted to contact someone from the church without success on Feb. 8. After several phone attempts, the department issued an email that highlighted concerns over the event.

In the past, various dishes have been featured squirrel, crow, venison and woodchuck.

“If the meat is properly processed by a state permitted facility, it can be served at public events,” said Madison County Health Department Director of Environmental Health Geoffrey Snyder. Dishes made from animals like crow that are carrion feeders or road kill cannot be approved for this type of dinner. Snyder said that elk and venison have been served at Health Department approved events.

According to information provided by the Health Department, the state Sanitary Code states that an organization serving food to the public must obtain it from an approved source and have permission from the Health Department. Church and other charitable groups are required to follow these rules, though any application fees are waived.

Because the event was not limited to church members, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Health Department. If the event had stayed confined to a specific group it would have been okay and in conjunction with sanitary codes. Snyder explained that these events are left open and participants “consume at their own risk.”

A sanitarian was sent to the event to inspect the food that was to be served and deemed it in violation. People who provided dishes were told to remove them from the premises. She also informed participants of the event of the dangers of violating State Sanitary Code. Consuming wild game can be a detriment to one’s health. These items are not FDA approved, and as such could be contaminated with various bacteria. In addition, any organiza-

tion found in contest with the sanitary code could be fined.

Snyder explained that the Health Department and the church are working together to make future events comply to the sanitary codes.

Pastor David DeLeon has apologized to the Health Department for treatment the sanitarian has received from people outside the church congregation.

“We try to work with these groups to make things work properly and that the public is properly protected,” said Snyder. “We wanted to reach out to make sure that the church didn’t face any lawsuits if people got sick.”

Snyder also pointed out the dangers of violating the sanitary code.

A similar dinner held in Oneida County cost the Health Department valuable time and resources after at- tendants became ill from consuming venison that contained wasting disease.

Church officials declines to comment until they have spoken with the Health Department on how to learn what they need to do in order to comply with the sanitary code and protect the public.

The event was brought to the attention of the Health Department on Feb. 8 by an ad in the Hi, Neighbor weekly newspaper that said the event was open to the public and that wild game would be served.

“Other County and State Health Departments have similarly encountered events that, while well intended, pre- sented public health risks related to food being served from unapproved sources,” said Snyder.

“While publicly unpopular and vilified through the media, they took the same action as did this office. It’s part of our job and a consequence of our dedication to protecting public health.”