Nearly 100 Health Officials at Food Safety Summit Suffer Food Poisoning

More than 100 people were affected with food poisoning after attending a conference on food safety, according to health officials.

The Food Safety Summit that was held between April 8 and 10 in Baltimore had at least 1,300 healthcare experts, spokesperson of fast food chains and officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration. The Maryland State Health Officials have not been able to identify the exact reason for the mass out-break of food infections among attendees. Out of the 400 attendees who were interviewed by health care professional, 100 exhibited symptoms of gastroenteritis. But no deaths or hospitalizations have so far been reported.

"We are working on evaluating possible exposure and doing testing at the Maryland state public health laboratory to identify an agent," the agency said in a statement, reports the NBC News.

About 12 hours after dining at the conference, the guests complained of diarrhea and nausea. Within a week after the conference, the Baltimore City health Department had found four cases of diarrhea and continuous vomiting and the agency is reportedly investigating the catering services provided by the convention center,  the Centerplate.

During past inspections, the convention center did not have any records of violation except for the condensation dripping from its ice machine in the kitchen.

"We're not trying to hide anything. If there is something, we'll take the corrective measures. None of us are very happy when we hear these things," Peggy Daidakis, Centerplate's spokesperson told the NBC news, reports the Daily Mail.

The past 16 years the summit has been hosted by the BNP Media and nothing like this ever happened, according to Rita Foumia, the  corporate strategy director, said to ABC News.