ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 20, 1990                   TAG: 9003202808
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

SYRINGES IN SOUP NOT INFECTIOUS

Public health officials say it is unlikely diseases could be spread by cocaine-tainted syringes found in self-service soup kettles at two Ukrop's Super Markets and another Richmond-area grocery store.

Grocery stores throughout the Richmond area closed their self-service soup counters Monday at the request of state and local health officials.

"We do not believe there is a possibility of disease transmission from these incidents," said Dr. C.M.G. Buttery, state health commissioner.

The first syringe, which had a needle and was capped, was discovered last Tuesday in a kettle of prepared soup in a Ukrop's store in Chesterfield County, authorities said. The soup container was thrown out.

Two more used syringes, this time without needles, were found Saturday in soup containers at another Ukrop's store and a Safeway outlet, both in Chesterfield.

Forensic tests found all three syringes had been used and had traces of cocaine in them and one also had blood, said Chesterfield police Capt. James P. Bourque.

- Associated Press 


 by CNB