Is Wolfgang Pucking Over His Patrons?

As you just saw on TMZ, an urgent warning has been issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Heath, after an employee of Wolfgang Puck's catering company was diagnosed with acute hepatitis A.

Turns out this employee worked 13 separate events from February 1 through February 20, putting hundreds and possibly thousands of people at risk.

TMZ contacted Puck's public relations firm, asking for a list of the 13 events. We were told the list would not be released. We pressed and noted that there may be people who had no idea that Puck was the caterer, and they could be in the dark and in peril. We got the same response -- the list will not be released.



Reader Comments

(Page 2 of 2) Previous 15 Comments

16. It doesn’t much matter if the PR firm releases the function list only to the Dept of Health, unless the identity of every last attendee and service worker at all 13 functions is known.

Keeping the list of events a secret is absolutely not in the public interest, and it’s likely the Health Dept will have to release the information to make sure that anyone who was a “plus guest” or “plus one” is notified about their exposure.

Why would Puck prefer to have the government issue a warning to anyone who ate his potentially tainted food when he has an opportunity to do the responsible thing by being open, truthful and regretful at the thought someone may have gotten ill (through no personal fault of his own)?

If he’s taking a PR agency’s advice and attempting to keep this on the downlow, he needs to fire Moe, Larry and Curly before he does real damage to his brand and exposes himself any further to liability.

Posted at 12:05AM on Feb 28th 2007 by dimes

17. No one has to make the specific parties or guests names public, it's not a public matter. These are private events, not 'free for all's'. Much like the Wal-Green medication recall, the affected people must be notified. Beyond that, the business name and party dates are all that needs to be released for you to know if could pertain to you or not.

Posted at 12:34AM on Feb 28th 2007 by Diamond

18. Mr. Puck has no obligation, legal or ethical, to release a list of the catered events between those dates nor the attendees of those said events to anyone other than the Department of Health. In fact, it would violate a potential patients' privacy. The Department of Health has an impressive emergency response to such situations and my guess is, that most of the individuals have already been contacted. Even if they haven't -- it's now a headline and anyone reading the paper knows if they attended an event catered by Mr. Puck.

TMZ: Shame on you for releasing the names of individuals whom may have contracted or come in contact with the illness. That is an issue between them and their medical care provider.

Posted at 12:41AM on Feb 28th 2007 by Laura

19. The security at these events is very tight. Let's hope that the reason the list has not been published is that Wolfie is able to contact each and every one of the people that attended and worked at these events can and will be notified.

If not, he should be shut down.

And Steve comment #1 you need to take your racist rant over to KKKramer's place. TMZ PLEASE DELETE/BAN ALL RACISTS FROM THIS SITE.

Posted at 1:28AM on Feb 28th 2007 by Kim

20. It makes you think twice about eating in his restaurants . . . .

Posted at 6:43PM on Feb 28th 2007 by Debra

21. If the attendees of the other events have NOT been notified via a guest list ,then absolutely YES. If they HAVE been notified then NO. That not a fair question without facts included. Joe publice doesn't have to know as long as those affected are in the know.

Posted at 2:29AM on Feb 28th 2007 by Pamela

22. #1, how moronic are you? the issue is that people maybe at risk due to one employee of wolfgang puck's. there no evidence to be led to the assumption where this supposed employee hails from. should we "deport" wolfgang? this is a serious issue and no ill blasts from you is needed or welcomed. true ignorance, honestly. and how insulting you are to the people of Mexico, Central America, South America....and frankly any country outside of the US. Everyone in this landof the free came from somewhere else .... so shall we investigate you and your family tree to find out who in your family instilled diseases then? See how ridiculous that is? Think before you comment.

Posted at 4:31AM on Feb 28th 2007 by upset

23. As others have said.....If your "BIG MONEY" in Hollywierd you are NOT subject to the same law that the average person has to abide by.

Posted at 6:01AM on Feb 28th 2007 by wink

24. Wolfgang Puck thinks he is the greatest chef ever to have lived just anither self absorbing A**HOLE.

Posted at 6:27AM on Feb 28th 2007 by mark zysk

25. Now think about it...who else works as kitchen help?
Is it some lace curtain Irish mick? No,
some greaseball dago? nope.
A spearchucking zulu warrior, alas...no!
A borderjumpingworkfor$5@hourliving25intwobedroomapartmentin South Gate busboy from Mexico?
Si, senor...stright from the fields where they peepee and dokey on the lettuce! Enjoy!

Posted at 7:16AM on Feb 28th 2007 by Working for that minimum wage, Si!

26. Betcha the worker was a illegal Mexican,what else is new?They don't get their shots in Mexico before they sneak over the US border.The country of Mexico really needs to practice birth control which they don't do anyway..The public schools in LA are now 75% Hispanic.

Posted at 8:26AM on Feb 28th 2007 by Hannah Harris

27. I think Wolfgang Puck should be boycotted until he releases the list..........his customer's health should be the first priority!

Posted at 2:30PM on Feb 28th 2007 by Juli

28. #3: How can they learn except through the media? Let me guess - you are one of those "if you read it on a gossip site or see it on tv it must be true people", right?

Well, allow me a brief moment to enlighten your world. All persons that arrange with a caterer spend time going over a number of things and there is CONTACT INFORMATION... and there are GUEST LISTS with addresses and telephone numbers and all sorts of contatc informaiton so it can be handled discreetly without all the OH MY GOD factor throw in for the drama of it.

I would venture to say that Wolfgang Puck, being a person that at least projects a classy demeanor, has already begun the process of contacting persons in a way other than hysteria, so that people can go to their doctors and be properly informed.

I know that I would prefer that over sensationalism; that is better served for the ANS Circus that is still occurring.

Posted at 10:46AM on Mar 2nd 2007 by Xanthia

29. Why in heck was the guy working when he had Hep A? and how and why did they test him? If they knew he had it by testing, why did they let him work during his illness. From what I know, it is passed by feces and not thoroughly washing the hands with hot water and soap, then touching the skin, etc.

So 1) how did he get it? Where did he get it from?
2) When did they test him? And what caused them to have him tested?
Finally 3) why was he working when sick?

What is wrong with these people?

Posted at 9:32PM on Feb 28th 2007 by Reece Franklin

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