WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Forsyth County Health Department says it now knows why two dozen students at Petree Elementary School suddenly got sick earlier this week.
Health officials said kids either drank a concentrated fruit-flavored liquid meant to be mixed with water, or they ate large amounts of hot-and-spicy flavored chips and became sick. They say some students also experienced "sympathetic vomiting," or nausea caused by the sight, smell, or sound of other students vomiting.
HAMZAT crews were called in Tuesday because so many students and one adult became sick so quickly.
Health officials say the juice-flavoring liquid was brought from home, and the hot and spicy chips were both purchased at the school and brought from students' homes. Students who drank the liquid did so using their hands, directly from their lunch trays using straws, food items, or directly from the bottle.
The school system says the snacks sold in the cafeteria are pre-packaged and federally approved for schools; however, they will be re-evaluating the snack products sold in the cafeteria. Interim Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Simington hopes this will also be a teaching moment for parents and their kids.
"I hope parents at Petree and across our district will join us in taking this opportunity to remind children they should always follow directions on any food packaging and reiterate that sharing food or drinks with classmates is not a good idea," said Simington.
Some parents came out to the Winston Salem Forsyth County School board meeting Tuesday night. Some say the school didn't communicate well enough with parents.
"Parents were definitely alarmed at the lack of communication," one parent said, "[We want them] to make us feel like the decision they were making was the best for our children."
Officials say they found no evidence of foodborne illness, disease, or an airborne agent.
School officials believe this was an isolated incident.