Maryland health authorities have concluded their investigation into a mass food poisoning incident that affected dozens of workers at a wholesale fish distribution facility. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) confirmed that Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) was responsible for sickening 46 employees at North Atlantic Fish Company (NAFCO) Wholesale Fish Distribution on October 21.
The outbreak was traced to a homemade noodle dish brought in by an employee to share with coworkers, rather than any food products from the NAFCO facility itself. Laboratory testing of both clinical samples from affected individuals and remnants of the consumed food confirmed the presence of Staph bacteria.
Staphylococcus aureus produces toxins that can cause severe gastrointestinal distress. While cooking kills the bacteria, the toxins they produce remain active in the food, making proper food handling and temperature control crucial for prevention.
Stanley Pearlman Enterprises, NAFCO’s parent company addressed the situation, emphasizing that their facility adheres to strict health and safety protocols. In their statement, they highlighted their regular compliance with health authority inspections and industry standards.
None of the affected workers required hospitalization and the contaminated food was confined to the facility’s employees. Health officials have classified this as an isolated incident with no ongoing public health risk.
To prevent similar occurrences of Staph food poisoning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends several key safety measures. Proper hand washing before food preparation and service is essential. Additionally, food should never be left in the “danger zone” – temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit – where bacteria can multiply rapidly. Perishable items should be refrigerated within two hours of preparation, or within one hour if ambient temperatures exceed 90 degrees.
Large-scale incidents of food poisoning have made headlines in recent months. In early August, an outbreak of foodborne illness struck at least 60 employees at ByteDance’s Singapore office. ByteDance is best known as the parent company of the popular site and app Tiktok.
Commenting on this article, one national Staphylococcus lawyer said, “I have represented victims in a number of Staph outbreaks, and they usually boil down to a failure to exercise good personal hygiene. This incident of food poisoning in Maryland is a strong reminder of the importance of proper food handling practices, even in casual settings like workplace potlucks. It is fortunate that no employees were taken seriously ill.”
