Sodium Azide Poisoning at a Restaurant - Dallas County, Texas, 2010

In Apr 2010, Dallas County Health and Human Services staff members investigated reports of acute-onset dizziness among patrons in a local restaurant. Symptoms, which included fainting resulting from low blood pressure, occurred within minutes of consuming food from the restaurant and were consistent with chemical poisoning. Toxicologic and epidemiologic investigations were begun to determine the cause of the poisonings and identify potentially exposed persons. Schwarz et al summarize the results of those investigations, including a case-control study that identified iced tea as the likely contaminated food or drink. A CDC editorial note is presented.