Citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 1955; 4(52): 8.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1955, (in public domain), Publisher U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The California Department of Public Health has reported an outbreak of an Illness among approximately 500 persons, including children, who attended a Christmas party. All had eaten at home and no food was served at the party. However, orange colored popcorn and candy were passed out to the children. At least 50 of the children became Ill with headache followed by vomiting from 4 to 6 hours later. The children who ate only. candy remained well. The popcorn was purchased from a nearby plant which used coconut oil as a base for a soluble orange dye. Laboratory examination showed the dye in the popcorn was the etiological agent. An investigation revealed that the plant had used this dye previously with similar reported cases. This dye has been outlawed but the order was not in effect at the time of the outbreak.