National Guard troops patrol outside the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2021.
A Pentagon spokesman said Monday (March 8) that about 50 National Guardsmen had to be treated for gastrointestinal distress after eating what was described as “improperly prepared” Food.
John Kirby told reporters at a news conference that six of them were treated at the Army’s medical department and the others were treated at an ambulance station.
Some of the 5,100 soldiers still on duty at the Capitol complained of undercooked food, including raw meat. The Michigan National Guard said the reports, which include photos, are “very concerning. Senior officials in the state expressed their displeasure to senior Defense Department officials.
More than a dozen service members have reportedly been hospitalized after consuming the food.
A National Guard spokesman told last week that some improperly prepared meals did occur, but no cases of food poisoning have been reported.
Kirby said Monday that no National Guard members have been hospitalized for food poisoning.
He also said he recently met with Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, commander of the U.S. National Guard. The military leaders are making sure the guardsmen deployed to Washington are getting a healthy diet.
Kirby said the military leaders “take very seriously the need to make sure the troops have safe and nutritious food. “There are frequent inspections. He himself goes there multiple times a week to eat with the National Guard and eat together the food that the officers and men eat.”
The troops’ food is provided by a contractor. The vendor’s facility has been inspected several times without finding any substantial problems, officials said, and they have observed food deliveries, taken photos of the food and asked the soldiers what food was served.
The food issue prompted a bipartisan group of lawmakers to call for a per diem for National Guard troopers and retroactive back pay for members who previously purchased their own meals because of concerns about food sanitation.
In January, tens of thousands of National Guard troops flooded into Washington after the U.S. Capitol was broken into. Despite opposition from some lawmakers, thousands remain in the city of Washington, DC.
Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman last week asked the Pentagon to continue providing National Guard support after March 12.
In a statement, the Capitol Police Department said, “The Capitol Police Department greatly appreciates the support provided by the Department of Defense and the National Guard since Jan. 6. We understand that the National Guard has a tremendous domestic need for services in response to the COVID-19 (Chinese Communist Virus) outbreak.” The Capitol Police Department and added that the threat to members of Congress increased 93 percent in the first two months of the year compared to last year.
Pentagon officials have not yet said whether they will approve the request.
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