911 calls reveal suspected cause after dozens became ill at Lebanon Walmart facility
Emergency dispatch recordings from a suspected foodborne illness outbreak at a Walmart distribution facility in Lebanon have shed new light on the incident that sent 19 workers to area hospitals, with callers identifying homemade rice brought into the workplace as a potential culprit.
The 925,000-square-foot automated fulfillment center at 1015 Hixson Boulevard, which opened in fall 2022 and employs up to 300 full-time workers, became the scene of a rapidly escalating medical emergency as symptoms spread among employees.
Rapid Escalation of Symptoms
Initial 911 calls document how quickly the situation developed. In an early call, a facility representative reported a single employee in a restroom experiencing fatigue and vomiting. Within a short time, subsequent calls revealed the scope expanding dramatically.
"So we're currently sitting at 28 affected associates, and we have at least four that are very ill," a caller told dispatchers in one of the recordings.
Wilson County Emergency Management Agency officials initially received information suggesting 80 or more people could be affected. Upon arrival, emergency crews triaged approximately 25 to 30 individuals presenting similar symptoms before transporting 19 to hospitals.
Maegan Eldridge with Wilson County EMA noted the unusual scale of the response. "Typically, it's a much smaller, you know, setting, maybe just one or two people or a family that thinks they may have eaten something bad, but not to this big of a scale that I can recall," she said.
Homemade Rice Identified as Possible Culprit
A critical detail emerged during one emergency call when a dispatcher inquired about what patients might have consumed. "It's possibly from homemade rice that was brought into the facility," the caller responded.
Rice represents the highest-risk food category for Bacillus cereus-associated food poisoning, with the bacterium causing an estimated 63,000 cases annually in the United States. The bacteria multiply when cooked rice sits at room temperature for more than two hours, and the toxins produced can survive reheating.
Ongoing Investigation
The Tennessee Department of Health is investigating a possible foodborne illness outbreak associated with a meal at the facility, working alongside the Mid-Cumberland Regional Health Office and the Wilson County Health Department. Health officials have not confirmed rice or any specific food as the source, and the investigation remains ongoing as of Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The state health department conducts such investigations in coordination with local health departments, environmental health programs, and laboratory partners. Tennessee has participated in the CDC's FoodNet surveillance program since 2000.
Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, explained that investigators face a dual task. "Well, the investigators are trying to determine, number one, what was the cause of the foodborne outbreak and number two, they would be investigating the food preparation and handling techniques," he said.
Broader Public Health Context
The incident occurs within a broader public health context. The CDC reports approximately 800 foodborne illness outbreaks annually in the United States, causing about 15,000 illnesses, 800 hospitalizations, and 20 deaths. Nationally, nearly 9.9 million people contract foodborne illnesses each year, with approximately 53,300 hospitalized and 931 deaths. In workplace outbreak investigations from 2017-2019, 41% involved ill workers as contributing factors.
Food Safety Guidance
With holiday gatherings approaching, Schaffner emphasized food safety practices. "The rule is heat it, cool it, never leave it out," he said. "Because the longer you leave it out, the longer, if there is some food contamination, for the bugs to multiply in the food to the point that they can actually cause illness."
Schaffner noted that foodborne illness typically causes vomiting and diarrhea that may lead to dehydration, with older adults, frail individuals, and those with underlying conditions such as diabetes facing more serious effects.
Walmart Response
Walmart issued a statement emphasizing employee safety as a priority: "The health and safety of our associates is a top priority. We're working with local emergency management and health officials as they investigate." The company clarified that its products were not the source and there is no public risk.
The Lebanon facility serves Wilson County, part of the Nashville metropolitan area with a population of approximately 175,000 people. Lebanon, the county seat, has about 51,500 residents.
