by Tigard, OR – Dozens of students at Fowler Middle School in Oregon experienced discomfort after being served pretzels contaminated with a granulated oven cleaner earlier this week. The incident occurred on Monday, when approximately 37 pretzels tainted with the cleaner were mistakenly served to students, according to the Tigard-Tualatin School District.
As many as 50 students reported symptoms such as burning sensations in the mouth or throat after consuming the contaminated pretzels. Fortunately, the school district confirmed that no hospitalizations were reported, but the episode has raised concerns about food safety practices within the district.
The Cause and Immediate Response to the Incident
The contamination was traced back to a case of human error, as stated by Alex Pulaski, the district’s director of communications. The incident involved the inadvertent use of a granulated oven cleaner called Alto Shaam. Sodium hydroxide, a key ingredient in this cleaner, is known to cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms if ingested.
“We serve thousands of meals every day, and our first priority is always to protect the safety and well-being of our students,” said Alex Pulaski. “In this instance, we erred, and we are working to rebuild trust as we conduct a full inquiry into what happened.”
Upon discovering the issue, the school quickly contacted the Oregon Poison Center for guidance. Principal Cindy Pellicci communicated with families whose children had consumed the pretzels, ensuring immediate follow-up and health checks were conducted.
Health Risks of the Oven Cleaner and Safety Protocols
The Oregon Health & Science University’s Oregon Poison Center provided information that ingestion of the oven cleaner can trigger a burning sensation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to sodium hydroxide can cause:
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Potential perforation of the gastrointestinal tract and shock
The school district emphasized that all protocols were followed promptly to identify and care for affected students, demonstrating a commitment to safety despite the unfortunate mistake.
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Steps Forward and Community Support
The district is currently undertaking a full inquiry to understand the events leading to the contamination. They have also committed to reimbursing families for any medical costs incurred because of this incident.
Community members and parents have expressed concern, underscoring the need for stringent food safety measures in schools. This incident has highlighted that even well-meaning systems are vulnerable to errors that can impact student health.
For more detailed background information, the original report can be found at NBC News.
Looking Ahead: Ensuring Student Safety
As the school district moves forward with its investigation, it remains critical to focus on improving protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. Transparency and proactive communication with families will be vital to rebuilding trust.
Key takeaways from the incident include:
- The importance of diligent food safety checks in school kitchens.
- Rapid response and communication in the event of food contamination.
- The need for ongoing training to minimize human errors.
What do you think about this incident and the measures taken by the school? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
