Update: Smith asks National Guard chief to provide food per diem, other safe food options for Guard personnel
March 3, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today asked the Speaker of the House to investigate and take immediate action on credible reports of tainted food that has made several National Guard members sick, including at least 30 from New Jersey.
“This is outrageous,” Smith said. “The women and men deployed here from New Jersey and elsewhere to protect the Capitol deserve meals that are absolutely safe and healthful.
“I’ve learned that dozens of National Guard members from New Jersey have gotten sick from tainted food—with some vomiting in the Senate parking lot.
“The provision of this bad food—whether intentional or not—must be thoroughly investigated.
“The tainted food appears to be the exclusive fault of the private sector vendor, not the Guard. It is my understanding that Sardi’s Catering has the contract for food service, and a new provider of food needs to be found immediately.”
Sardi’s Catering company released a statement as follows:
“We have the greatest respect for the men and women of the National Guard who bravely serve ourcountry and continue to protect our nation’s capital. We are proud to serve our food to the NationalGuard troops who have deployed to Washington from around the U.S., and we stand by the quality and
safety of the food we deliver to the National Guard troops.