Jessup, MD – Nearly 50 employees from NAFCO Wholesale Seafood Distributors were hospitalized after consuming homemade food brought by a coworker, resulting in a mass food poisoning incident.
Responders from the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue were dispatched to the seafood distribution facility at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Monday, according to reports from FOX 5 DC. A total of 46 individuals, all adults, reported symptoms of food poisoning, including nausea and vomiting. The employees were quickly transported to nearby hospitals. Fortunately, none of the patients were listed in critical condition.
The source of the outbreak was traced to food that an employee had prepared at home over the weekend and brought into the workplace on Monday. In a statement provided to FOX 5, NAFCO confirmed the origin of the food poisoning and expressed concern for the affected employees.
“An investigation by the Howard County Health Department has preliminarily determined that an employee prepared food at his home over the weekend and served it to coworkers, leading to the illnesses,” NAFCO stated. “We wish those impacted a safe and speedy recovery.”
The seafood distributor also reassured the public about its food safety protocols, emphasizing that the company adheres to strict standards and undergoes regular inspections by health authorities.
As of Tuesday, all 46 employees had been released from the hospital.
NAFCO further reiterated its commitment to maintaining high food safety standards, noting, “As a food distributor, we take food safety very seriously and are regularly subjected to rigorous inspections.”
This incident follows a string of unusual food-related accidents, raising concerns about workplace food safety.