Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff's Los Angeles country club Hillcrest leaves members hospitalized after sickening them with tainted guacamole

Two dozen members of an elite Los Angeles country club championed by Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband were hospitalized after a food poisoning outbreak, sources say.

An 'alfresco dinner' at Hillcrest Country Club on April 7 ended with an alleged 70 falling ill, more than 20 hospitalized and two in critical condition from a food-related shigella infection – amid claims the club failed to tell the Department of Public Health for days.

A letter to members on April 12 warned of 'fever, stomach cramping and then diarrhea' from the bacterial infection, suspected to have spread from 'contaminated guacamole'.

The incident sparked an investigation by the LA County Department of Public Health (DPH).

An 'alfresco dinner' at Hillcrest Country Club on April 7 left 70 members sick, more than 20 hospitalized and two in critical condition from a shigella infection

VP Kamala Harris's husband Doug Emhoff is a member there and the couple told the Los Angeles Times that Hillcrest is one of their favorite places in the city

An April 12 letter from the club obtained by DailyMail.com confessed that 'a number of our members [are] experiencing illness that seems to have been contracted here at Hillcrest last Sunday April 7, during Alfresco dinner'

Members of Hillcrest, known to be VP Harris and her husband's favorite place in LA, told DailyMail.com the club is at risk of being downgraded to a B or C health rating, and complained of managers 'working remotely' who 'lost control of the kitchen and food quality'.

And it is not the only scandal on Hillcrest's plate.

The embattled club is already facing an excoriating lawsuit from a spurned applicant, accusing it of being a 'racist aristocracy' that ignored reports of sexual assault and drug abuse. Hillcrest denies the claims.

An April 12 letter from the club obtained by DailyMail.com confessed that 'a number of our members [are] experiencing illness that seems to have been contracted here at Hillcrest last Sunday April 7, during Alfresco dinner.'

'There seems to be [sic] have been some contaminated guacamole that has recurred in almost every investigation. Symptoms experienced by our members have generally been feeling unwell on either Monday or Tuesday, with a fever, stomach cramping and then diarrhea.

'It appears that someone who may have been sick at Sunday's Alfresco contaminated the guacamole and possibly some of the surrounding bowls or utensils.

'We do not think it was foodborne, as each component of the guacamole is used in multiple other areas throughout the week, and there are no signs that this occurred at any other time.'

The letter added that Hillcrest contacted a food safety consultant and the health department to investigate, and that 'this is the first time the Club has experienced an outbreak of this kind in decades.'

By April 20, the probe appeared to have widened.

Hillcrest told members in another letter that 'the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is currently investigating multiple reports of gastrointestinal illness in Los Angeles County,' and asked any guests who ate at the club 'from Saturday, April 6 until Friday, April 12' to fill out a survey.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, DPH confirmed its investigation, and said it was notified on April 12 – five days after the fateful 'alfresco' dinner mentioned in the club's letters.

'On April 12 2024 the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health was notified of a possible shigella outbreak among people who ate on the same day at a private country club in Los Angeles,' an agency spokesperson said.

'Public Health initiated an outbreak investigation at that time. A site facility inspection did not find any significant violations. The investigation is ongoing at this private venue.'

The incident sparked an investigation by the LA County Department of Public Health after the club failed to tell the department for days

California's most illustrious country club - beloved by VP Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff 

A source close to the club told DailyMail.com that the investigation risked Hillcrest's 'A' food safety rating.

'It appears they waited many days before alerting the health department, which was a major mistake,' the source claimed.

'Hillcrest members have lost confidence and are really angry. Seventy people got ill from this. It caused two dozen to go to hospital, including two who were seriously ill.'

DPH did not confirm the number of infections.

The bacteria shigella causes shigellosis, with symptoms of 'stomach pain followed by diarrhea, fever, bloody stool (poop), nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and a painful feeling of needing to poop,' according to DPH.

'Shigellosis can spread through sexual or casual (shaking hands) contact with an infected person,' a pamphlet created by the agency says.

'It can spread when an infected person doesn't wash their hands after passing stool (pooping) and has contact with other people. It can also spread during oral or oral-anal sex with an infected person.'

A 2023 study of 800 restaurant food poisoning outbreaks by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said about 40% were linked to workers showing up sick or contagious.

The CDC says about 48 million people get foodborne illness a year, causing 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.

One angry Hillcrest member, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, told DailyMail.com that they believed there had been a decline in food quality at Hillcrest.

'The morons running club operations and food and beverage are all working remotely. They lost control of the kitchen and food quality has gone downhill,' he said.

But another member, Maron & Sandler law firm partner Richard Sandler, said he had 'no complaints' about the club.

Club President Jason Kaplan was accused of sexual assault and 'making racist remarks in incidents that the Club has refused to investigate'

The lawsuit claims that Brad Fuller (left), Chair of the Hillcrest's Membership Committee, 'has built his career on creating pornographic and violent films that glorify murder and reinforce harmful stereotypes.' According to the suit, the club's former President, Michael Flesch is 'a beneficiary of nepotism and 'has used his position to secure admission for his addict son'

'I've been a member there for a long time. I think it's an outstanding club; well run. I think when problems arise they're addressed and questions get answered.'

'We are deeply committed to the health and safety of our members, guests, and staff,' said Dan Meherin, General Manager of Hillcrest.

'Despite the bacteria outbreak, our kitchen remained open, thanks to the exceptional dedication and swift action of our team to uphold the highest standards of health, hygiene, and cleanliness. We fully cooperated with health officials and they found no fault with Hillcrest.'

Hillcrest was branded 'racist' by Matthew Winnick, 42, who claims the club retaliated against him. Winnick,  is 'party to a biracial marriage, where Plaintiff's wife and children have Hispanic heritage,' according to the suit

Vice President Harris's husband, Doug Emhoff, is a member at Hillcrest, and its celebrity membership has included Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra, and Sydney Poitier.

In January, Harris and Emhoff, both 59, told the Los Angeles Times that Hillcrest is one of their favorite places in the city.

But a lawsuit filed by telecoms heir Matthew Winnick last month tells a darker story.

The suit claims the club has maintained a 'plantation-like essence' by employing a mostly Hispanic staff who cater to predominantly white members.

'It scoffs not only at laws barring discrimination; it also disregards reports of sexual assault and drug abuse. In fact, Hillcrest promotes such unworthy (but racially acceptable) people who so engage and punishes those who complain.

'Hillcrest's leadership reflects the Club's depraved standards.'

According to the suit, club President Jason Kaplan has been accused of sexual assault and 'making racist remarks in incidents that the Club has refused to investigate.'

Film producer Brad Fuller, Chair of the Hillcrest's Membership Committee, 'has built his career on creating pornographic and violent films that glorify murder and reinforce harmful stereotypes,' the lawsuit claims.

And, according to the lawsuit, the club's former President, Michael Flesch, is 'a beneficiary of nepotism' and 'has used his position to secure admission for his son, Warren Flesch, an addict who, by his own words, nearly murdered a homeless man during a cocaine and heroin infused psychotic meltdown.'

Hillcrest's attorney, Lyne Richardson from Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. told DailyMail.com: 'The lawsuit lacks substance, evidence, or facts and makes incendiary statements that lack legitimacy.

'Hillcrest Country Club will vigorously defend against this lawsuit.'