Tycoons, a Duluth gastropub inspired by turn of the 20th century millionaire lifestyle, has been fingered in a norovirus outbreak. According to Northlands News Center, an infected food handler or customer (or RTE ingredient -ben) likely spread the virus to diners on December 5.

The Minnesota Department of Health is reporting a significant foodborne norovirus outbreak at Tycoons restaurant in Duluth that happened at the beginning of December.

Investigators from the health department identified at least 30 people, from multiple groups, who got sick after eating at the restaurant on December 5. 

They say they didn’t interview all the customers who ate at Tycoons that day so there may have been more than 30 victims.

Update: Duluth News Tribune reports that produce prepped by an infected staff member is the likely source.

In this case, someone on the food prep staff at Tycoons was infected and apparently came in contact with the raw vegetables served to customers at the three separate parties, said Brad Nelson, marketing director for the Duluth-based company that owns Tycoons and other eating establishments in town.

The restaurant was never closed and management has since redoubled training and kitchen signage to remind staff to wash their hands before handling any food.

“It comes down to something that simple, that’s the way to prevent it,” Nelson told the News Tribune. “Our chef and staff cooperated with the state’s effort to find out what happened. Now the goal is to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”