Maryland officials investigate mass food poisoning incident

NAFCO Wholesale Seafood Distributors said preliminary investigations found the food was not produced by the company and was prepared by an employee at home
Howard County Hospital entrance in Jessup, Maryland
Howard County Hospital | Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/G Edward Johnson
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The Howard County Health Department in Columbia, Maryland, U.S.A. is investigating a mass food poisoning incident at NAFCO Wholesale Seafood Distributors in Jessup, Maryland. 

Around 3:45 p.m. EST on 21 October, firefighters and paramedics responded to the 7700 block of Chesapeake Bay Court in Jessup following a report of “multiple patients with food poisoning after allegedly eating the same food,” the Howard County Health Department posted on its Facebook page yesterday. It is not clear what the food was that sickened patients.

NAFCO said that it is continuing to investigate the incident, and added a preliminary investigation found the food was not produced by the company. According to NAFCO an employee prepared food at home over the weekend and served it to coworkers, who became sick.

“In the hours after the food was served during yesterday’s lunch break, nearly 50 employees displayed symptoms of food poisoning, the majority of whom were treated and released from area hospitals.,” the company said. “NAFCO wishes those affected a safe and speedy recovery.”

Paramedics evaluated 46 adults and transported them to multiple area hospitals. All of the patients were non-critical, the department said. The local Howard County General Hospital went into "mini disaster alert” due to the number of patients, ABC 7 News reported.

The company said no consumers or outlets have been affected by the incident.

“NAFCO maintains the highest standards of food safety and regularly undergoes rigorous inspections by health authorities. Its products continue to be safely produced and consumed by customers nationwide, and there are no issues related to its supply chain,” it said.

The Howard County Health Department said the investigation is ongoing to confirm the source of the illness.

“We continue to believe that this is an isolated event," the department said. "As we gather more information, we will provide updates.”


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