Citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 1953; 2(33): 2.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1953, (in public domain), Publisher U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Dr. W. L. Halverson, Director, California Department of Public Health, gives the final report on the poisoning listed under gastro-enteritis for the week ended June 13. Of 62 persons interviewed, 22 became ill within 15 minutes following the consumption of grape punch and cookies. Grape punch was suspected to be the vehicle of infection since no illness occurred in 8 persons interviewed who did not drink the punch. The punch was prepared in 2 batches, the last of which was stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours in a 20 gallon galvanized can of the type ordinarily used for garbage. No punch was available for laboratory analysis but preparation of punch was simulated under the same conditions and tests revealed a pH of 2.5 and a zinc concentration in the punch of 819.5 parts per million. It was concluded that during the preparation of the punch,which had been stored in a galvanized can metal, principally zinc, entered the punch in concentration high enough to cause a mild illness, and that the outbreak was probably caused by chemical contamination.