An outbreak of ammonia poisoning from chicken tenders served in a school lunch

Journal of Food Protection
Mark S DworkinRoland Lucht

Abstract

Although foodborne outbreaks of illness are relatively common, they are rarely caused by chemical agents. An outbreak of gastrointestinal illness occurred among students at two schools shortly after lunch was served. A cohort study, an environmental investigation, and microbiological and toxicological laboratory testing of food samples were performed. A case was defined as a student or teacher who ate food prepared in the kitchen at school A on 25 November 2002 (and served at schools A and B) and who later developed headache or symptoms of gastrointestinal tract irritation, with onset within 180 min of eating lunch. Among 312 persons interviewed, 157 persons became ill (attack rate = 49%; attack rate 41% for school A, 11% for school B). Onset of illness occurred within 60 min for 81% of cases; 91% of students reported that their chicken tenders smelled unusual. Eating chicken tenders that smelled unusual was associated with being a case (relative risk 9.2, 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 62.6, P < 0.05). Ammonia was detected in uncooked chicken tenders at levels as high as 2,468 ppm. The chicken had been contaminated during a warehouse leak of ammonia refrigerant. This outbreak of ammonia poisoning is only the second reported in...Continue Reading

References

Aug 2, 2002·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Udo BuchholzS Benson Werner
Sep 19, 2002·The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal·Nicholas A DanielsPaul S Mead

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Citations

Oct 28, 2016·MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report·Tiffany LupchoClay Van Houten
Nov 13, 2007·Journal of Food Science·Faraj HijazCurtis L Kastner
May 25, 2010·Journal of Food Science·F KarimJ S Smith
Aug 17, 2006·Pediatric Emergency Care·Manish M PatelMartin G Belson
Dec 17, 2009·Food Additives & Contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure & Risk Assessment·K RidgwayR M Smith

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