FDA investigates school lunch illness in Massachusetts

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are actively investigating what may have caused four outbreaks of illnesses in children related to meals served at several schools in Massachusetts beginning in May 2003 and occurring in a Revere, Massachusetts school as recently as May of this year. Cases of illness have been reported among those who consumed school meals, with symptoms ranging from nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and dizziness. The onset of illness has usually begun within one hour of eating these meals, and usually lasts less than one day.

In nearly every case, the meals involved contained tortillas produced by Del Rey Tortilleria, Inc. of Chicago, Ill., and distributed under the brand names “Del Rey Tortilleria” or “Pan De Oro.” Investigations and repeated laboratory analyses by FDA of tortillas and ingredients have not identified any particular contaminant as the vehicle for these illnesses.

FDA is continuing to work with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine the definitive cause of the problem and to implement measures to prevent its reoccurrence.

Individuals who believe that may have experienced the same symptoms of illness after consuming tortillas from this company are urged to contact their local health department.

http://www.fda.gov