Dozens of people sickened by outdoor food at Jessup seafood processing facility
Dozens of people sickened by outdoor food at Jessup seafood processing facility 01:24
BALTIMORE — Dozens of employees at the NAFCO Wholesale Fish Distribution Facility in Jessup became ill with food poisoning caused by Staphylococcus aureus from outdoor dishes on Oct. 21, according to the Maryland State Department of Health.
The health department said 46 employees at the facility in the 7700 block of Chesapeake Court became ill after sharing outside food prepared by employees.
According to the health department, tests were conducted on clinical samples from the affected individuals and food scraps eaten by the employees.
Food was not distributed to anyone other than facility employees.
“Staphylococcal food poisoning is caused by a toxin produced by bacteria. If food is not cooked after being handled, or if it is cooked but not kept between 40°F and 140°F, it can become contaminated with staph. , it can cause illness,” the Maryland State Department of Health says. said in a statement.
According to the Baltimore Banner, two representatives from distributor Nafco said the employees started feeling ill about three hours after eating pancit, a Filipino noodle dish.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the best way to prevent staph foodborne illness is to:
Always wash your hands before preparing or serving food. Avoid placing food in the “danger zone” between 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Refrigerate perishable foods after 2 hours (1 hour if temperatures are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit).
“NAFCO maintains the highest standards of food safety and is regularly subject to rigorous inspections by health authorities,” NAFCO said in a statement. “The company’s products continue to be safely produced and consumed by customers across the country, and there have been no issues related to the supply chain.”
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