Beyonce Knowles

Hepatitis Scare at Beyoncé Party

Health officials recommend vaccinations for anyone who ate uncooked food at a Sports Illustrated party

Feb 28, 2007

Guests at a Sports Illustrated party attended by Beyoncé and top models may have been exposed to hepatitis by a Wolfgang Puck prep cook, health officials said.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health sent guests alerts Tuesday saying the worker had acute hepatitis A and recommended vaccinations for anyone who ate uncooked food at the party and three other events from Feb. 14-20.

There have been no reports of illness.

Carl Schuster, president of Wolfgang Puck Catering, said: "While the risk of infection is low, we will continue to work with the Health Department to bring a speedy and thorough resolution to this investigation. Our catering efforts continue, and we remain confident that our guests will receive the highest standards of excellence for which Wolfgang Puck is known."

After the cook was placed on medical leave, "we immediately worked to take every precaution to further safeguard our patrons and other employees," said Schuster.

He added the infected employee was not involved in any of the Puck-catered Oscar events, including the Governors Ball after the Academy Awards.

The Feb. 14 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition party was the biggest of the events where the cook worked. Beyoncé, who posed for the cover, was joined by major Sports Illustrated models including Bar Refeali, Veronica Varekova, Yamila Diaz-Rahi, Ana Beatriz Barros and Marisa Miller.

The party was held in a tented area in the courtyard of the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. The menu offered much raw food, including sushi and fresh vegetables, as well as several cooked items.