An employee’s homemade meal was blamed for a mass food poisoning incident that sickened nearly 50 people at a seafood distributor in Maryland.

Emergency responders were called to NAFCO Wholesale Seafood Distributors in Jessup around 3:45 Monday afternoon following reports that multiple workers became ill after “eating the same meal.” Howard County Health Department in question.

A total of 46 workers were evaluated, taken to hospitals and treated. All of them were in “non-critical” condition.

After an investigation, NAFCO said that the food poisoning was caused by food that an employee prepared at home over the weekend and then brought it to share with colleagues.

“In the hours after the meal was served during yesterday’s lunch break, approximately 50 employees showed symptoms of food poisoning, and the majority of them were treated and discharged from area hospitals,” the distributor said. Independent.

Two unnamed NAFCO representatives told Banner of Baltimore The food in question was “pancit,” a noodle dish from the Philippines that the affected employees ate about three hours before they fell ill.

Outside food is no longer allowed to be brought into company facilities KGNS News.

NAFCO is one of the largest seafood distributors in the mid-Atlantic region and sells wholesale products.

In its statement, the company emphasized that it continues to maintain high food safety standards by passing “strict inspections by health authorities.”

“NAFCO wishes a safe and speedy recovery to those affected,” he added.