Most parents out there probably worry about their kids getting sick because they don’t get enough vitamins. Kids getting sick from too many vitamins, well, that’s a new one.
But that seems to be what happened at three public schools in Texas recently.
Children at the schools, which are located in Katy, TX, experienced feelings of burning, itching and nausea, as well as rashes and headaches following their lunch break.
The symptoms lasted for between 30 and 90 minutes before finally subsiding.
So what virulent menace could be behind this mysterious and unfortunate outbreak? According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), niacin – or as it’s more commonly known, Vitamin B3 – could be the culprit.
According to the FDA’s Theresa Eisenman: “Overexposure to niacin can lead to skin reactions such as redness and flushing, itching and dry skin. Very large doses can cause indigestion and nausea.”
The problem seems to stem from Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice Mexican Flavor, which was part of the lunch that the children ate on the day of the outbreak.
However, despite the similarity of the symptoms, the FDA has stopped short of putting the blame for this outbreak on excessive niacin. Whatever the actual problem may be, it looks like it’s coming from the rice.
As a result, Mars Foodservices, the company which actually makes Uncle Ben’s products, has issued a recall of all bags and lot numbers of its Uncle Ben’s Infused Rice products produced in 2013.
The FDA has also warned consumers not to use it and to return the rice to the wherever they purchased it from, or to simply dispose of it.
It’s one thing to get workers to be careful with or on high-alert for a product or ingredient that’s inherently dangerous. But that level of care doesn’t always transfer over if the risk isn’t as obvious, for example: too much of a vitamin.
What steps do you take to keep workers and customers safe from those types of hidden risks?
Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
