Schools Pull Milk Brand From Cafeteria After Somerset County Issues Contamination Warning

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — All public schools in Somerset County are being asked to pull Guida’s milk-brand from the cafeterias after 25 Camden kids were hospitalized from drinking the milk that was contaminated with sanitizer.

The Somerset County Department of Health issued the recall on Thursday.

"The Somerset County Department of Health is contacting public schools and food service companies within our contracted municipalities to notify them of the emergency recall," according to the county.

About 25 children have been hospitalized due to the presence of a peroxyacetic sanitizer in Guida’s 1% Lowfat Milk, code dated 09-183 Apr 11 B2, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

"Since other types of Guida’s brand milk may be affected, all products should be removed from distribution within school’s cafeterias," said Somerset County.

Guida's Dairy — the company that processed the milk that sent dozens of students and a staff member from four Camden City development centers to the hospital on Wednesday — told Patch the contamination occurred when "a food-grade sanitizer diluted with water was inadvertently introduced during production." Read More: Sanitizer 'Diluted With Water' Caused Contaminated Milk in Camden

"While we believe the product impacted is limited, out of an abundance of caution, we are disposing of any 1%, low-fat half-pint milk cartons with a sell-by date of April 11," Guida's Dairy also said in a statement emailed to Patch.

The impacted product is not sold at any retail stores, the company said.

The Somerset County Department of Health Consumer Health Staff routinely inspect all food establishments, including schools and investigate food recalls, food-borne disease outbreaks, and complaints within contract municipalities.

For questions, call the Somerset County Department of Health at 908-231-7155.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here. Don't miss local and statewide announcements. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.