- The Washington Times - Wednesday, October 23, 2024

More than 40 workers at a seafood distributor in Howard County, Maryland, were hospitalized for food poisoning this week after eating a co-worker’s home cooking, officials said.

The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services responded to NAFCO Wholesale Fish Dealers in Jessup around 3:45 p.m. Monday and took the 46 victims to different hospitals. All of the victims were in noncritical condition, fire officials said in a release.

The company told D.C. ABC News affiliate WJLA-TV that workers began getting sick about three hours after eating the home-prepared food. 

The food was a Filipino noodle dish called pancit, two NAFCO representatives told the Baltimore Banner.

Howard County Department of Health officials said Tuesday in a social media post that they were “not aware of any risk of further illnesses connected to this incident.”

In a statement to D.C. Fox News affiliate WTTG-TV, NAFCO said “an employee prepared food at his home over the weekend, ultimately serving the homemade food to fellow employees who became sick … NAFCO wishes those affected a safe and speedy recovery.”

NAFCO has changed its workplace policies as a result of the incident and will no longer allow outside food onto its premises, the company told WJLA-TV.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.

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