Baking Soda in Envelope Causes Office Evacuation

Emergency personnel rushed to a Bucks County business park after an employee came in contact with a suspicious white powder while opening the mail.

The powder turned out to be nothing more than common baking soda, according to the fire marshal, but that didn't stop dozens of emergency personnel from responding to 1900 block of Frost Road in Bristol, Pa. when they didn't know if the suspicious powder was actually dangerous.

A MetaSource employee found the powder after opening an envelope sent to the company's Bristol facility, according to Bucks County dispatchers.

The entire building was evacuated as the Philadelphia Police Rapid Response team investigated in full decontamination suits.

Dispatchers said there were no immediate medical transports from the location.

After a couple of hours, crews cleared the scene and allowed employees back into the office after it was determined that the powder was baking soda and posed no threat.

MetaSource is a business process outsourcing company the employs more than 4,700 employees at its various locations. It does a lot of mail outsourcing that involves opening lots of mail. at its Bristol office.

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