An employee's home-cooked meal is blamed for a mass food poisoning outbreak at a fishmonger that sickened 46 people

The latest headlines from our reporters across the U.S. are delivered straight to your inbox every weekday

Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

An employee's homemade food is blamed for a mass food poisoning outbreak at a Maryland fishmonger that sickened nearly 50 people.

Emergency crews were called to NAFCO Wholesale Seafood Distributors in Jessup around 3:45 p.m. Monday after reports that several workers were feeling unwell after “eating the same food,” the Howard County Health Department said.

A total of 46 workers were examined and taken to hospitals for treatment. They were all in a “non-critical” condition.

After an investigation, NAFCO said the food poisoning resulted from food that an employee prepared at his home over the weekend and then brought to share with his colleagues.

“In the hours following the food distribution during the lunch break yesterday, nearly 50 employees showed symptoms of food poisoning, most of them were treated and discharged from area hospitals,” the retailer said in a statement it shared The Independent.

Two anonymous NAFCO officials said so The Baltimore Banner that the food was “Pancit” – a noodle dish from the Philippines – which the affected employees had all eaten about three hours before they became ill.

Bringing food from outside onto the company premises is now no longer permitted, KGNS News reported.

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

The company emphasized in its statement that it continues to maintain high food safety standards by subjecting itself to “strict controls by health authorities.”

“NAFCO wishes those affected a safe and speedy recovery,” it continued.