Citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 1956; 5(5): 2.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1956, (in public domain), Publisher U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Dr. James Scatterday, Florida State Board of Health, has reported 2 cases of nitrite poisoning in children from the ingestion of raw wieners. The cases were in siblings, ages 3 years and 15 months, and death occurred in the 3-year-old child. Dr. John M. Sims, local physician who made the diagnosis, reported that the symptoms were sudden onset and consisted chiefly of cyanosis and shock from anoxia within 30 minutes to 1 hour after ingestion. Analysis of post-mortem blood from the one child revealed a methemoglobln concentration of 30 percent. Raw wieners found in gastric aspirate and vomitus of both children, on chemical analysis, showed concentrations of nitrite 3 to 5 times greater than the maximum allowable concentration of 200ppm. The wieners were prepared in a local packinghouse and a review of their procedure showed considerable laxity in measuring the nitrite and nitrate salts added to the meat as a preservative. Necessary steps were taken to withdraw their products from the market pending establishment of proper plant controls.