Citation

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 1956; 5(10): 2, 8.

Copyright

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

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Dr. J. D. Martin, Louisiana Department of Health, has re- ported the occurrence of 10 cases of methemogloblnemia among children associated with the ingestion of processed meats containing nitrites in excess of the maximum amount (200 ppm) allowable by law. After the cases occurred, an investigation revealed that each patient had eaten wieners or bologna manufactured by the same company. Symptoms appeared in most of the children about two 2 hours after ingestion of the processed meat. The principal findings were blueness of the lips and adjacent areas and blueness of the fingers, especially about the nails. Children treated with methylene blue recovered almost immediately. Untreated children felt better after vomiting and were well the following day. Two cats which ate some of the bologna died about an hour later. A dog ate a small amount of the bologna and did not die.

Chemical analysis of the processed meat products manufactured by the company disclosed nitrites in excess of the maximum allowable in 21 of the 130 samples collected. The excess quantities were found in wieners, bologna, and sausage. The analysis disclosed a wide range in the quantity of nitrites present. The amount varied from an almost negligible (4.93 ppm) to about 45 times the maximum amount allowable by law. This wide difference suggests a grave deficiency in the method of applying nitrites to foodstuff.