Beware of bad water

More than 145 tonnes of institutional meals have been recalled in the US because they were made with contaminated water.

Contaminated run-off from Fairchild Air Force Base is thought to have infiltrated several wells that supply the Airway Heights municipal water system. The city had issued an advisory health alert to not drink or use the water for cooking purposes because the water contained elevated levels of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid, which were above the Environmental Protection Agency Lifetime Health Advisory levels.

The fluorinated organic chemicals in the water are assumed to have come from fire-extinguishing foam used by the Air Force from 1970–2016 on a fire-training site and on two locations where aircraft had crashed.

The frozen meat and poultry products manufactured by Correctional Industries Airway Heights Food Operations were intended for institutional use in Washington State Department of Corrections and senior citizen nutrition programs. Unidentified ‘institutions’ in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington have reportedly received the frozen meat and poultry products.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption but a general notice warning the public not to consume the products has still been issued.

The Correctional Industries factory produces baked goods, packages frozen vegetables and assembles frozen meals, tray lunches and breakfast sandwiches which are sold to the Department of Corrections, senior nutrition programs and city and county jails. The food factory production operates 24 hours a day, five days a week. It is divided into four departments and employs 14 civilian staff overseeing 300 inmates.