ABSTRACT
An epidemic of health complaints occurred in five Belgian schools in June 1999. A qualitative investigation described the scenario. The role of soft drinks was assessed by using a case-control study. Cases were students complaining of headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or trembling. Controls were students present at school on the day of the outbreak but not taken ill. An analysis was performed separately for school A, where the outbreak started, and was pooled for schools B-E. In school A, the attack rate (13.2%) was higher than in schools B-E (3.6%, relative risk = 3.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.5, 5.3). Exclusive consumption of regular Coca-Cola (school A: odds ratio (OR) = 29.7, 95% CI: 1.32, 663.6; schools B-E: OR = 7.3, 95% CI: 2.9, 18.0) and low mental health score (school A: OR = 16.1, 95% CI: 1.3, 201.9; schools B-E: OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.5, 6.6) were independently associated with the illness. In schools B-E, consumption of Fanta, consumption of Coca-Cola light, and female gender were also associated with the illness. It seems reasonable to attribute the first cases of illness in school A to regular Coca-Cola consumption. However, mass sociogenic illness could explain the majority of the other cases.
Subject(s)
Carbonated Beverages/poisoning , Disease Outbreaks , Somatoform Disorders/epidemiology , Adolescent , Belgium/epidemiology , Case-Control Studies , Child , Food Contamination , Humans , Hydrogen Sulfide/poisoning , Logistic Models , Statistics, Nonparametric , Sulfur Oxides/poisoning , Surveys and QuestionnairesSubject(s)
Carbonated Beverages/poisoning , Disease Outbreaks , Food Contamination , Somatoform Disorders/epidemiology , Adolescent , Belgium/epidemiology , Child , Female , Humans , MaleSubject(s)
Carbonated Beverages/poisoning , Food Contamination , Hemolysis , Aged , Belgium , Female , Humans , Renal DialysisABSTRACT
Corrosive alkalis are used in the soft drink and beer industries for the cleaning of the non-disposable glass containers using several different methods. It is well understood that complete cleaning of these vessels by multiple and well-organized rinsing is an absolute necessity. In cases of disturbance of this process, some residuals of alkaline agents may be retained in the glass containers, causing severe health risks to consumers. This case of acute poisoning due to caustic alkalis concerns a young woman who consumed carbonated lemonade from a non-disposable glass container. Clinical signs and symptoms and the treatment of the affected woman are described. Toxicological analysis of the soft drink consumed led to the detection, identification and quantitative determination of the presence of the alkalis.
Subject(s)
Carbonated Beverages/poisoning , Caustics/poisoning , Food Contamination , Food Packaging , Adult , Carbonated Beverages/analysis , Caustics/analysis , Female , Glass , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion ConcentrationABSTRACT
In a soft drink caused food poisoning, white floccus was found and mould count was 6.0 x 10(2) CFU/ml. The Mycoflora was made of only one kind of mould which was identified as Penicillium janthinellum Biourge. This isolate can grow under anaerobic condition. The culture liquid of the isolate was fed to mice orally for toxicity test, which made the mice lose weight. An extract of the culture liquid was tested in weaned mice inaberitoneally for toxicity and all mice died in 24h. The toxic symptoms were tic, sway and paralysis of right rear-leg. Gross anatomy changes were gastrectosis, flatulence and intestinal edema. The conclusion is: the P. janthinellum isolate from the soft drink was the toxigenic mould.
