CASE 1: WENDY’S

E.COLI OUTBREAK

Snapshot:
• Customers Name: Wendy’s
• Category: Fast Food Chain
• Industry: Food Service Industry

CUSTOMERS INTRODUCTION:
The third-largest hamburger chain in the US, after McDonald's and Burger King, is the
fast food company Wendy's. Over the course of the world, it has a total of 6,949
branches.
PROBLEM/GOAL:

In the month of August in the year 2022 an E.Coli outbreak was reported with over 84
cases that happened within four states: Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. The
suspect for the outbreak was the Romaine lettuce from Wendy's, since a large percentage
of people who got sick were said to have consumed the restaurant's burgers or
sandwiches with the topping. Five additional people who became ill after consuming
Wendy's hamburgers or sandwiches with romaine lettuce in July or August were
interviewed by NBC News. All have said that it was the terrible pain they'd ever
encountered.

In an interview with NBC News, Bowling Green, Ohio resident Hillary Kaufman, one of
the outbreak's victims, said, "I think my insides were going to burst out." She went to the
emergency room and was given painkillers and antibiotics as well as a positive E.Coli
test. "My stomach started to look like I was pregnant — it was extremely swollen from
being inflamed," she added.

Another outbreak victim likened her bloating to getting punched in the stomach. She also
asserts that she asked for extra lettuce on her burger on Aug. 8 and afterwards developed
a headache, diarrhea and body aches around 48 hours later. Ever since, she has
occasionally felt tired. "I fought breast cancer and bounced back from that, went through
a whole year of treatments, radiation, chemotherapy, and the fatigue I have with this is
similar," Ruryk said.

CDC also reported that the outbreak might also be limited to the states with reported
illness. A woman in Pennsylvania stated that she had diarrhea, vomiting and intense
stomach cramps after she ate at a Wendy’s in the Las Vegas airport. However, her
husband didn’t have any experiences like she had since according to her she ordered
Dave’s Burger with standard toppings including lettuce, while her husband ordered a Hot
Honey Chicken Sandwich which doesn't come with a lettuce. "I'm fortunate that I'm
already over it, but it was awful," she said. "It was unbearable."

A citizen from Ohio named Sarah Boron had sued Wendy’s, claiming that a food she
consumed at one of the chain's restaurants in Bowling Green caused her to become ill.
She was admitted to the hospital for E.coli for a week after ingesting a Dave's Single
hamburger, the lawsuit claims.

Upon reading the case, it has been determined that Romaine lettuce eaten raw is the
issue. Therefore, this case study analysis aims to provide information about solutions that
can be used to stop microbial growth on food, in order to prevent the occurrence of
incidents like this.
SOLUTION:

To prevent or reduce the risk of occurrences of food poisoning, here is a way.

• FATTOM - The acronym stands for Food, Acidity, Temperature, Time, Oxygen,
and Moisture. It serves as a mnemonic device for the six favorable circumstances
required for the development of foodborne pathogens in the food service
sector. According to the Food Safety Training and Certificates (2020), You may
be able to lower your risk for bacterial infections and food poisoning by being aware
of the ideal conditions for bacterial growth.

To prevent or reduce the risk of occurrences of food poisoning because of lettuce, here
are solutions that can help.

For Purchasing:
• Choose lettuces that are undamaged and free of bruising.
• When shopping, keep household chemicals and raw foods like meat, poultry, and
seafood apart from fresh produce.
• Should be bagged separately

Storing:
• Refrigerate right away.
• Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and their juices in separate compartments.

Preparing:
• Before and after handling fresh produce, thoroughly wash your hands in warm
water with soap for 20 seconds.
• Hot water should be used to rinse dishes, cutting boards, countertops, sinks, and
utensils.
• Before preparing and/or eating lettuce, remove any bruising or damaged areas.
Produce that appears to be rotten or moldy should be thrown away.
• Turn on the cool water and hand-rinse each lettuce leaf as you wash it. After that,
use your fingers to gently scrub the leaf, paying close attention to the creases.
Finally, spread out the just-washed leaves to dry on a crisp flour sack towel.

RESULTS AND BENEFITS:

As mentioned above regarding prevention or reducing the risk of occurrences of

foodborne illness, it will be able to lower the risk of bacterial infection and food poisoning
if you become aware of the conditions like bacterial growth. Additionally, by knowing how
to purchase, store, and prepare lettuce correctly it will result in a lesser risk of
contamination, reproduction and microbial growth on food. By performing periodic
schedules of food area sanitation processes, we will ensure the safety of our
foods. Conducting pest control procedures will keep the area free of pest related food
contamination.
INSPIRATION:
Lowering the risk for bacterial infections and food poisoning by being aware of how to
handle or prepare greens such as lettuce is great. Since, by doing so customers can enjoy
their foods safely.

CALL OUT QUOTE:

"A safe global food supply can only be achieved through the development of effective
food safety management systems, which are essential to the well being of consumers,
farmers, processors, and manufacturers."

Source:

• “As E. coli outbreak grows, 6 Wendy's customers describe severe food poisoning”
Retrieved on December 12, 2022.
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/e-coli-outbreak-grows-wendys-
customers-describe-food-poisoning-rcna44466
• “E.COLI” Retrieved on December 12, 2022
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/e-
coli#:~:text=It%20is%20transmitted%20to%20humans,contaminated%20raw%20
vegetables%20and%20sprouts.
• Retrieved on December 12, 2022
https://news.northeastern.edu/in-the-media/as-e-coli-outbreak-grows-6-wendys-
customers-describe-severe-food-poisoning/
• Yiğit, V. & Duran, T. 1997. Institutional Nutrition Technology I (in Turkish). Ekin
Publishing, Istanbul, Turkey.
• Mary S. Palumbo et al, “Recommendations for Handling Fresh-cut Leafy Green
Salads by Consumers and Retail Foodservice Operators,” Food Protection
Trends, Vol. 27, No 11, 2007, Pages 892-89,
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/adap/foodsafety/News/Freshcut_Produce_ReWash_
Recommendations2007.pdf.
• “How to Wash Lettuce the Right Way” Retrieved on December 16, 2022.
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/blog/3690/how-to-wash-
lettuce.html
 CASE 2- CAMPYLOBACTER:
A REDIVIVA RESTAURANT CASE

Snapshot
Industry: Food Industry
Location: Aberdeen, Washington
Year founded: 2011

Introduction:
Rediviva is a renowned Northwest American restaurant serving foraged and locally
sourced produce from the Olympic Peninsula, as well as fresh seafood and shellfish,
in Aberdeen, Washington's charming downtown. Since the fall of 2013, they have
delighted thousands of visitors to the peninsula by revealing the true nature of their
cuisine and relationship to the region's food.
Problem/Goal:
Throughout the years since their opening Rediviva Restaurant have made a name on
their own, and have provided customers with excellent service and meals. However, in
the month of February in the year 2020 the award winning restaurant has been closed
temporarily due to a food poisoning outbreak that have gotten 25 cases and 2 people
hospitalized. The Grays Harbor County Environmental Health Division reported that a
person tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni on February 25, 2020. The person told
the investigators that she ate at Rediviva Restaurant on Valentine's day.

Furthermore, as the restaurant was being inspected by the Grays Harbor County
Environmental Health Division on February 25, 2020, numerous health and safety
violations were found, including food workers handling ready-to-eat food items with their
bare hands, unapproved specialized processing methods were employed, and the person
in charge was unable to demonstrate knowledge of food safety regulations to the
regulatory authority representative. Paper towels were unavailable at the handwashing
sink. Without getting permission or proper notice, the menu was expanded. According to
the Health Department, sources from Draper Valley Farms' Chicken Liver Mousse are
most likely to be responsible for the outbreak.

Upon reading the case, it has been determined that the undercooked chicken liver and
the violation of the Rediviva Restaurant to the health and safety are the issue. In order to
prevent both food poisoning and or any other illness that may be linked to the said
bacteria, this case study analysis is being conducted in order to discover or offer solutions.

Solution:
The Chicken Liver Mousse was the outbreak's primary cause. The safe final internal
temperature for all poultry products is 165°F, but many chefs frequently serve pink
chicken liver. It is dangerous to serve pink chicken liver because eating it can infect you
with Campylobacter. Therefore, below are the ways on how to cook a liver correctly in
order to prevent food poisoning:

• Cooking livers efficiently requires cooking them in small batches.

• Cook livers for at least five minutes, or until they attain and maintain an internal
temperature of at least 70°C for two to three minutes.
• Cooking should continue until the center of the liver is completely bloodless. Color
is not a good barometer of successful cooking. Studies have revealed that even
after reaching a safe temperature, liver tissue can still be pink. Refer to figure 1.
Figure 1.
Cooked to safe internal temperature Undercooked - Bloody and looks raw

According to the authorities the Rediviva Restaurant has violated numerous health and
safety rules. Therefore, below are ways in order to keep food safe.
• Ensure no food workers are allowed to touch exposed, ready-to-eat meals with
their bare hands.
• Wearing disposable gloves or using barriers like deli tissue, spatulas, tongs, or
dispensing equipment will help you avoid coming into contact with food.
• Ensure that every part of the facility that will be used to prepare food will be clean
and sanitized. It must also be regularly cleaned and sanitized after use.
• Ensure that all tools and or utensils that will be used are clean and sanitized.
• To prevent cross-contamination, make sure to keep raw foods separate from
cooked foods or other raw foods.

Results and Benefits:

Since the primary cause of an outbreak called “Campylobacter” is the raw chicken liver it
results to a food poisoning. The best way to avoid a situation like this is to ensure that the
product is well cooked and ensure that no workers/employees are allowed to touch the
product with their bare hands. In this case the food poisoning and the contamination of
the product can be avoided. And with that, safety of food handling and cooking will result
in fewer accidents and improved better reputation for corporate responsibility among
investors and customers.

Inspiration:
Proper food storage delivers the best food quality by retaining flavor, color, texture and
nutrients and reduces the onset of food-borne bacteria. It is also impacted by the time
required to move it from the farm, to shop, to our homes and depends whether food is
perishable. With the help of this customers can enjoy their meal, without worrying about
being poisoned.

Call out quote:

Food for us comes from our relatives, whether they have wings or fins or roots. That is
how we consider food. Food has a culture. It has a history. It has a story. It has
relationships.”
Sources:
• https://www.foodpoisoningnews.com/food-poisoning-at-rediviva-
restaurant-15-cases-1-hospitalized/
• https://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2020/possible-campylobacter-outbreak-
at-rediviva-in-aberdeen-wa/
• https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/food-safety-codes-standards/good-
operating-practice/documents/safe-cooking-of-livers/
https://www.myfcph.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/food_safetypacket.pdf
 MANILA PAVILION FIRE:
CASE 3 STUDY ANALYSIS

Snapshot
Industry: Hotel Industry
Location: 7/F, Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino , United Nations
Avenue corner Ma. Orosa Street, City of Manila 1000 Metro Manila
Year founded: 1967

Introduction:
It was originally known as the Manila Hilton Hotel and was constructed in 1968; it is
renowned for being the first five-star hotel to reach that height at the time. It underwent
numerous renovations and redesigns by renowned interior designer Sonia Santiago-
Olivares before joining the illustrious Waterfront Philippines chain of hotels. As a result
of the renovation, the atmosphere is now more elegant but cozy.
Problem/Goal:

On the 18th day of March in the year 2018, around 9:30 in the morning a fire broke
out at Waterfront Manila Pavilion Hotel and Casino.The authorities reported that
around 19 people were trapped in the building's fifth and tenth floors. Additionally,
the fire has caused 3 people to die and 6 people have been injured as a result of
the fire.

"High-temperature electric discharge of a wiring inside the ceiling near the slot
machine area, which resulted in short circuit followed by massive electrical
ignition," was cited as the fire's cause according to a document that was obtained
by STAR. Additionally, according to analysis, the detected electrical fault was
caused by damage or error brought on by repeated use and regular wear and tear
of the electrical wiring's conductive material.

It has been determined after reading the case that the malfunction or damage was caused
by frequent usages and regular wear and tear of the electrical wiring's conductive
material, which led to a high-temperature electric discharge, a short circuit, and a massive
electrical ignition. Therefore, this case study analysis is being conducted in order to
provide solutions or ideas to prevent an incident such as this.

Solution:
The frequent usages and regular wear and tear of the electrical wiring's conductive
material can lead to an electrical fire. To prevent such thing to happen here are some
ways:
● Ensure that there are no embrittlement, cracking and eventual failure of the
insulating and sheathing materials which is the result of aging of wire for this
may expose to a short circuit, a likely cause of electrical fire.
● If the wire is old, replace it immediately.
● Ensure that the cable selected is appropriate for the application.
● Rodents frequently attack the outer layer of the wire; the damage they do can be
severe and greatly reduce the wire's outer sheath or insulation capabilities, which
is another likely reason why electrical fires start. Therefore, use chemical and
physical barriers to deter rodents from the wire.
Results and Benefits
In this case, as a result of Fire in Manila Hilton Hotel, the authorities reported that
around 19 people were trapped in the building. It caused 3 people to die, and some
are injured. To prevent this, there is a way to do. Such as, Regular electrical
maintenance or electrical inspection can minimize any downtime that would
otherwise be caused by electrical problems. If these things are done. The company
will be benefited by saving money and time, not just that. It also promotes safety.
It can save lives and having a peace of mind that comes with it.

Inspiration
In other words, electrical maintenance is a small but powerful investment not
just for business but also for home. It can be the difference between a hiccup or a
disaster, protecting lives, saving you money and time and giving you and the
customers a peace of mind.

Callout quote

“Fire destruction is one man's job; fire prevention is every body's job”
 Case Study Analysis No. 4:
Plaintiff, v. MARRIOTT HOTEL SERVICES, INC.,
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC., HENSEL
PHELPS CONSTRUCTION CO., COOPER CARRY,
INC.,

Snapshot:

Industry: Hotel Industry

Location: 901 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States
Year founded: 2014

Introduction:
The Marriott Marquis Washington DC is a deluxe hotel that can be found on
Massachusetts Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., United States. This hotel has 100,000
square feet (9,300 m2) of meeting space that also contains two smaller ballrooms
measuring 10,800 square feet (1,000 m2) each and a main ballroom measuring 30,000
square feet (2,800 m2). The structure's roof is made up of a glass-encased 18,800 square
foot (1,750 square meter) penthouse and a 5,200 square foot (480 square meter) outdoor
event terrace.
Problem/Goal

The hotel was constructed between 2010 and 2014 and opened to the public in May 2014.
Cooper Carry is an architectural firm that was hired by Marriott to provide architectural
services, while Hensel Phelps was hired to serve as the design builder for construction.

The flooring and stairways of the hotel lobby are primarily constructed of white polished
sivec marble, according to the uncontested facts. Cooper Carry prepared specifications
for Marriott in 2012, ensuring that level surfaces would have a minimum static coefficient
of friction of.60 during construction. However, it did not meet the sample specifications
but they still installed it since according to a reply made by a Marriott representative,
“factor indicated is acceptable as long as the [anti-slip solution] is ap”.

On the second day of September in the year 2017, Plaintiff and her mother arrived at the
Marriott Marquis Hotel, and on that same day it had rained. Plaintiff claims that the hotel's
marble floor was slippery and that there were no mats or signs warning guests of the
issue. Both the plaintiff and her mother testified that they walked over a wet mat that was
just inside the door moments before the accident happened. Plaintiff then lost his balance
and crashed to the hotel lobby floor. Plaintiff claims that she suffered from back pain and
post-concussive symptoms as a result of the fall.

Upon reading the case there are two problems that have been identified and that is
installing a floor tile that did not meet the sample specifications and not putting any
warning signs for wet floors, and not changing the wet mat. Therefor, this case study
analysis aims to:
• Provide knowledge about the appropriate static coefficient of friction.
• Provide knowledge that will help customers keep away from risks that are present
inside the hotel when it’s raining.

Solution:

A. Appropriate Static coefficient of friction.

• Ensure that the static coefficient of friction of the flooring must be at least at
0.5 or 0.6 and 0.8 for any inclined or ramp areas. This is according to the
USA Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), and the
Americans Disabilities Act (ADA).

• Of course the static coefficient of friction is indeed necessary however here

are numerous variables at play, and each one needs to be taken into
account during the planning and installation phases:
• Choice of tile
• Analysis of environment and the conditions of use
• Checking for irregularities
• Slopes
 • Configuration of non-traffic and traffic areas, adjoining floors of different
friction coefficients
• Proper fixing
• Proper maintenance
B. What to do when it’s raining:
• When it’s raining and there are people coming inside the hotel the mat that’s
on the entrance will eventually get wet. Therefore, when that happens
immediately replace the wet mat with a new one since having a wet can
result to:

• Dangerous molts like Stachybotrys to grow which can produce mycotoxins that
can affect the hun health.
• People can get exposed to harm maby slipping on the floor due to the wet mat
that he or she has stepped on.

Results & Benefits

As the result, Plaintiff brings this negligence action against Defendants

Marriott Hotel Services, Inc. and Marriott International, Inc. as well as
Hensel Phelps Construction Co., and Cooper Carry, Inc., for injuries
stemming from a slip and fall at a Washington, D.C. hotel. Marriott's motion
for summary judgment was previously denied. Defendants Cooper Carry
and Hensel Phelps separately move for summary judgment. For the
reasons that follow, their motions shall be granted.

Plaintiff asserts that Cooper Carry and Hensel Phelps negligently installed
an unreasonably slippery floor. She points out that a sample of the marble
that was installed had a coefficient of friction of .55 when wet, which was
below Marriott's specifications that flooring have a .60 coefficient of friction.

In this case the benefits of the static coefficient of friction is a measure of

the amount of friction existing between two surfaces at rest. In order
for motion to take place, that static coefficient of friction must be
overcome.
Friction's advantages include: Being able to walk across a surface without
slipping. This is static friction.
Inspiration

"When an expert witness is required, the expert must clearly articulate and reference a
standard of care by which the defendant's actions can be measured." Robinson v.
Washington

Callout quote

The road to success is always under construction... there are lots of pot holes but no
traffic jams.

Reference:

• “Plaintiff, v. MARRIOTT HOTEL SERVICES, INC., MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL,

INC., HENSEL PHELPS CONSTRUCTION CO., COOPER CARRY, INC.”,
https://www.anylaw.com/case/heichel-v-marriott-et-al/e-d-pennsylvania/05-20-
2019/mI393WoBGQqH1ylc184f Retrieved on January 9, 2022.
 Case Study Analysis 5:
MGM Resorts Data Breach Incident

Snapshot

Industry: Hospitality Industry

Location: Las Vegas
Year founded: 1986

Introduction:
Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, MGM Resorts International is a global hospitality
company. This organization, which runs a chain of opulent resorts, was founded on
January 29, 1986. It provides management services for lodging, dining, meetings,
conventions, and hospitality for properties that are both casino- and non-casino-related.
Problem/Goal:

In the year 2020, the well known Global Hospitality Company or the MGM International
Resort was sued over a data breach of 10.6 million hotel guests. It is said that they have
found evidence of unauthorized access to a cloud server that held a small amount of data
for a few previous visitors. According to reports, the data in the leaked documents
included personal information on reporters, government officials, technology company
CEOs, and celebrities.

Therefore, this case studies aims to provide solutions that can help improve the
security in Hotels.

Solutions:
There have been numerous instances of cyberattacks over the past few years and
up to the present, and the enterprises that have encountered this kind of incident have
suffered significant losses. Therefore, below are the following solutions that can help
improve the security in Hotels in terms of Data Security.

1. Risk Assessment:
• Before anything else you must conduct a Cyber Security Risk Assessment
for this will help to map out a plan which can help to properly address the
risk with appropriate solutions.
2. Training Hotel Staff about Security Awareness.
• One of the main reasons for data breaches is human error. These are the
irresponsible behavior of hotel staff. They occasionally do things like leave
systems logged in, use individual work-related devices without any
protection, give away login information, lose data storage, and other similar
things.
3. The use of the right Cyber Security Tools:
• An example of these tools are firewalls, network monitors, traffic filters, and
anti-malware.
4. Organize employee activity surveillance.
• Another significant reason why hotel cyber security has been compromised
is insider threat. Therefore, monitoring employee activities can help.
5. Restrict and control access control.
• By doing this, the security risk of unauthorized access to physical and
logical systems will be reduced.
6. Data Backup:
• Improving Security Data is indeed important, however having a backup of
the data is also important. This can help to get back on track.

Benefits and Results

Data breach effects can scale from requiring employees to change their credentials to
larger scale cyberattacks that involve malware or ransomware. Perhaps the biggest long-
term consequence or results of a cybersecurity data breach is the loss of customer
trust. Your customers share their sensitive information with businesses like MGM Resorts
assuming they have the proper security measures in place to protect their data.

As the benefits of said solutions. Data is a valuable asset that generates, acquires, saves,
and exchanges for any company. Protecting it from internal or external corruption and
illegal access protects a company from financial loss, reputational harm, consumer trust
degradation, and brand erosion. Sensitive data or not, information is never supposed to
leak.

Inspiration

There have been many cases of cyberattacks which caused the company great loses
and the customers life exposed to danger. Therefore, by improving the data security the
company and also the customers would be protected to any harm that can affect them
financially and can affect their wellbeing and also reputation.

Callout quote

“Cyber Security is a shared responsibility, and it boils down to this: In Cybersecurity, the
more system we secure, the more secure we all are” -Jeh Johnson
References:
• Singh, Kanishka, “MGM Resorts sued over data breach that possibly involved 10.6
million guests” REUTERS. February 22, 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mgm-resorts-intl-cyber-lawsuit-
idUKKCN20G062 Retrived on January 1, 2015.
• “Securing the Hotel Industry from Cyber Threats: Pandemic Lessons and 8 Best
Practices to Improve Data Protection” February 21, 2022.
https://www.ekransystem.com/en/blog/cyber-security-in-hotels Retrieved on
January 1, 2015.