Shredded beef and pasta salad served at a wedding by an unlicensed caterer have tested positive for salmonella.

State epidemiologist Kirby Kruger said the food served by Aggie Jennings of rural McLean County at the June 20 wedding in McClusky tested positive for salmonella montevideo, as did six people who attended the wedding.

Jennings has been linked to three separate incidents of salmonella food poisoning that sickened more than 75 people and hospitalized nine: the McClusky wedding as well as a a family reunion in Wilton and a wedding in Washburn on June 13. Taco meat from the June 13 wedding tested positive for the salmonella strain.

Jennings is not a licensed caterer and was issued a cease-and-desist order following the outbreaks after the June 13 events. She could face charges for catering without a license. Officials have interviewed her and inspected her home.

The salmonella strain in all three instances has been linked to a bacteria commonly associated with baby chickens. Jennings raises chickens at her rural residence, and they are contained in a structure. Kruger said officials have taken samples from the chickens to determine if they could be the cause of the salmonella. Other environmental samples also will be tested in an effort to determine how the contamination could have occurred, he said.

"We're still working on that," he said.

Kruger said the health department still is waiting to receive questionnaires from people who were at the second wedding as well as additional lab results.

The investigation into the outbreaks will continue as health officials enter and analyze data and continue receiving test results.

Once the investigation is completed, the health department will send the information on to the state's attorneys' offices in McLean and Sheridan counties.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)