Meal from an outside source believed to be behind illnesses at Jessup, MD, company

County public health inspectors believe an employee’s meal is responsible for four dozen illnesses at a state complex in Jessup, MD.

According to spokeswoman Samantha Stanton, the Howard County Fire & Rescue Department described the 46 patients as non-critical.

Stanton said fire officials were called to the 700 block of Chesapeake Bay Court in Jessup at about 3:45 p.m. on Oct. 21. Upon arrival, they found 46 people showing signs of food poisoning. A few others became ill but did not seek medical attention.

All of the patients are employees of NAFCO, a seafood distributor. According to the health department, they ate food prepared by an outside source. 

The parent company, Stanley Pearlman Enterprises, says, “NAFCO did not produce the food they consumed, nor was this food distributed to the general public.”

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