LEBANON, Tenn. — Nineteen people were taken to the hospital and 25 to 30 more were evaluated at the scene Sunday after a possible food-related illness at the Walmart Distribution Center in Lebanon, a Wilson County city in the greater Nashville area, emergency officials said.
The Wilson County Emergency Management Agency said crews first went to the distribution center Sunday afternoon after receiving a call about a woman experiencing symptoms of a possible food-related illness. As crews arrived, the number of people needing help grew.
In all, emergency workers triaged dozens of people on site. Officials said nearly 20 were transported for treatment, with the final count at 19. Mount Juliet EMS and Rutherford County EMS provided mutual aid alongside Wilson County crews.
Officials did not say what made people sick or describe the condition of those taken to hospitals. The agency said the incident remains under review and that no further information was available Sunday.
Walmart said in a statement that the health and safety of its associates is a top priority and that the company is working with local emergency management and health officials as they investigate.
The response pulled resources from three counties in Middle Tennessee, a sign of the size of the call. Investigators had not said whether the cause was food served on site, another exposure or something else, and no timeline was given for findings.
HERE Nashville will update this story when Wilson County officials or the company release the cause of the illnesses or new information on the people who were treated.
