Cascade County is investigating a Sept. 28 incident at the Adult Detention Center in which food contaminated with human blood was served to inmates.

The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office contracts with Summit Correction Services to provide food services in the jail.

Meals were being prepared around 11:12 a.m. Sept. 28 for inmates at Station 2 in the K,J,H and G blocks when an inmate helping serve meals with Summit accidentally contaminated a serving tray of pasta with a nosebleed, according to CCSO.

Inmates earn the right to help with food services through good behavior.

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Another inmate saw what happened and immediately attempted to dispose of the contaminated food, but the Summit kitchen supervisor “stopped the inmate from discarding the food, reprimanded the inmate and returned the contaminated tray to the serving line,” according to CCSO. “The supervisor then placed utensils in the contaminated tray and instructed inmates to ‘scoop around’ the blood-contaminated food while continuing meal service.”

Summit did not notify CCSO of the incident and learned about the contaminated food through a jail kite, which are messages from inmates to jail staff with information or complaints, according to multiple county sources.

That information came two days after the incident of contaminated food being served in those blocks. No other blocks were affected, according to CCSO’s Oct. 8 release.

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Once CCSO officials learned of the incident, they revoked the security clearance of the Summit kitchen supervisor, notified the Cascade City-County Health Department and initiated an investigation into the incident.

Both Sheriff Jesse Slaughter and County Attorney Josh Racki told The Electric that the incident was captured on video, including audio.

“This incident is both disturbing and inexcusable. Summit Correctional Services’ actions were reckless, violated every standard of sanitation and human decency, and placed individuals in unnecessary danger. The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office took swift action the moment we were informed and will ensure accountability from those responsible,” Slaughter said.

CCHD inspected the jail kitchen on Oct. 8.

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CCSO directed Summit to provide bloodborne pathogen testing at no cost to the inmates housed in the affected blocks on Sept. 28 who with to undergo testing.

Racki said that the county isn’t releasing any health information about the inmate due to privacy concerns but that the inmates identity and any health issues he’s said he’s had are known among inmates.

Racki and Slaughter told The Electric that some inmates in those blocks when the contaminated food was served have already been released so the county is contacting them and they can go to CCHD for testing. Those still in custody can receive testing through the jail’s medical staff.

“Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),” according to the the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

It typically occurs through needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries or enters the bloodstream through cuts or sores.

In a statement provided by CCSO, Summit said that on Sept. 28 they were made aware of an incident at the jail.

“We took immediate corrective action and are conducting a comprehensive review of our food safety practices, including retraining all team members. We take this matter very seriously, and remain fully committed to maintaining the highest standards of food safety, quality and transparency across every aspect of our operations,” Summit wrote.

County Commissioners approved the five-year contract with Summit, a South Dakota based company, in February 2023, which was effective December 2022.

The contract includes an indemnification provision that states: “each party agrees that it will defend, indemnify and hold harmless the other party, its officers, directors, parent corporation, affiliates, employees and agents (“indemnified
parties”) against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, injuries, deaths, reasonable litigation expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees), costs and costs of court (collectively, “Damages”) which indemnified parties may hereafter sustain, incur or be required to pay arising out of the other party’s negligent acts, omissions or failure to perform obligations pursuant to this agreement. Provided, however, neither party shall be required to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the other party for any intentional or criminal actions of the other party or its employees, visitors or invitees,” which will come into play should the county or Summit be sued over the incident.

At this point, county officials said there’s been no discussion of terminating the contract.