A leak of ammonia at a commercial food preparation facility in Virginia resulted in 33 people being sent to the hospital, authorities reported on Thursday.
The incident occurred at the Cuisine Solutions plant in Sterling on Wednesday evening due to a faulty valve, according to the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System. A hazardous response team wearing protective gear managed to shut off the valve to contain the leak. The company stated in a written release on Thursday that the leak occurred outside the building and was brought under control within an hour.
Out of the 33 individuals hospitalized, 22 were initially in serious condition, while 11 others experienced minor symptoms, as per fire officials. Cuisine Solutions confirmed on Thursday that all the hospitalized employees, except for four who were still under observation, had been discharged.
The leak led to the evacuation of the plant’s 287 employees, rescue officials mentioned.
Ammonia exposure can lead to respiratory problems and skin burns.
Cuisine Solutions is renowned for its cooking technique known as sous vide, which involves cooking food in a vacuum-sealed bag in water. The company’s meals can be found in grocery store prepared food sections, meal kit deliveries, and on cruise ships.
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