Several children at a preschool and kindergarten center in New Jersey were hospitalised after consuming milk from cartons contaminated with sanitizer. 

On Wednesday morning, staff at the Early Childhood Development Center called 911 saying that 25 children had fallen ill after consuming milk from sealed cartons with an antiseptic odor. The children were rushed to two local hospitals and discharged a few hours later. 

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Investigation revealed that the cartons were filled with “non-toxic, consumable sanitizer.”

“This morning we investigated a possible contamination of milk today at our Early Childhood Development Center. It was determined that the substance found in the cartons is a non-toxic consumable sanitizer that runs through the vendor machines prior to milk,” Camden City School District said in a statement. 

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“Unfortunately, many cartons were filled with the sanitizer, sealed, and then shipped out with the milk. We pulled all milk today and NO milk will be served until the investigation is completed. Emergency teams were dispatched to the school.”

Officials added that “no students are currently ill,” and students had been admitted “as a precaution.” 

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Speaking to ABC 6, Camden County Health Officer Paschal Nwako described the incident as “a scary situation.”

“Thankfully, everyone who was exposed to the milk is in stable condition and either back at school or home,” Nwako said.

“This investigation is ongoing, and our department will get to the bottom of this situation. In addition, I want to thank all of our first responders and public health employees who worked together to protect the health and welfare of these children,” he added.