Christmas Eve Super Feast continues despite mishap with rice, community volunteers step up, City Wide Club organizers say

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — It’s a moment many in the Houston area look forward to every Christmas Eve, coming to the George R. Brown Convention Center.

It’s all part of Super Feast, an event where people come in to take in the holiday cheer and fill their stomachs.

One by one, thousands line up and count on volunteers from City Wide Club to serve them a plate of hot food.

But on Monday night, that cheer turned into worry for City Wide Club, after the Houston Health Department said something didn’t meet federal standards.

Dr. Theresa Tran, Director, Houston Health Department, sent this statement:

The health and safety of the public remain our highest priority. During a scheduled food safety inspection conducted by the Houston Health Department to ensure safe preparation and storage of food for City Wide Club of America’s annual Christmas Eve Super Feast at the George R. Brown Convention Center on the afternoon of December 23, 2025, registered sanitarians identified cooked rice that did not meet the FDA’s required cooling standards.

Though all other food items passed the inspection, fourteen pans of rice were found to be in non-compliance with the FDA Model Food Code. The FDA requires that rice be cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to under 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 hours, to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria which may lead to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. As required by the food code and established public health guidelines, the registered sanitarians informed the food handlers that the rice could not be served and must be discarded. We appreciate the cooperation of the food handlers in disposing of the rice on-site.

We understand the frustration of having to throw out any food during this time. This action was required and taken to protect the public. The Houston Health Department is scheduled to be on-site on December 24 for a routine reheating inspection for the event.

We will work closely with City Wide Club of America to ensure that this event is as safe and successful as possible for those who rely on this annual meal.

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“Nobody expected that to happen. Although it was a horrible thing, it all worked out,” said Caitlyn Goins, a spokesperson with City Wide Club.

Goins said when word got out about the discarded rice, the community stepped in to lend a helping hand.

“We’ve had donors from HEB to Chef Don Bowie and a few other special partners,” said Goins.

The organization wasn’t going to let a setback ruin a holiday. Volunteers got to work early and started cooking.

“We had volunteers, like I said, come in this morning and help out to prepare and finish up what went wrong last night. They helped us recuperate that loss,” said Goins. “Although it was an unfortunate circumstance, Houston always shows up.”

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