46 people were hospitalized for food poisoning after an employee shared an unpermitted homemade meal at work, according to NAFCO Wholesale Seafood Distributors in Jessup, Maryland.
“The investigation has preliminarily determined that an employee prepared food at his home over the weekend, ultimately serving the homemade food to fellow employees who became sick yesterday,” the company said in a statement released to USA Today this week.
However, the company later said the statement was “unsanctioned.”
On Monday, Howard County Fire and Rescue Services (HCDFRS) responded to a report of multiple food poisoning cases on the 7700 block of Chesapeake Bay Court in Jessup. 46 adults were evaluated and transported to area hospitals in non-critical condition, according to HCDFRS.
The company said that its supply chains remain unaffected and that its products are safe for consumption nationwide. The company said no consumers or outlets were affected by the incident.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by NAFCO’s parent company, Stanley Pearlman Enterprises (SPE), some media outlets “incorrectly reported” on the incident.
SPE clarified that NAFCO “did not supply any meals to the affected staff as well as does not sell seafood to the general public. The food they consumed was not produced by NAFCO nor was this food distributed to the general public. This is an isolated incident that does not affect the products we distribute.”
SPE also emphasized that the company’s products continue to meet the highest safety standards, stating that “NAFCO operates under the highest health and safety standards in the industry. Our headquarters and facilities are regularly inspected and monitored by the relevant health authorities to ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations. In addition, NAFCO has achieved industry certifications for excellence in food safety and quality control.”
The Howard County Health Department also confirmed that their investigation indicated that the cause of the food poisoning was not from the distributor.
“Preliminary indications are that the illness is related to outside food prepared by an employee and shared with others at the facility,” Howard County Health Department stated in a post on X. “At this time we are not aware of any risk of further illnesses connected to this incident.”
When asked where the contaminated food was purchased, a spokesperson for the Health Department did not respond to a request for comment by NTD News before this story was published.