The stench of rotting food was so bad that firefighters had to clear the AT&T building in downtown San Jose, reports San Jose Mercury. Seven workers were taken to hospital and another 28 taken ill after a worker decided it was time to clean out the mini-fridge.

The mixture of old food and two different cleaning chemicals caused people to need treatment for vomiting and nausea. But authorities said the worker who cleaned the refrigerator didn't need any treatment - as she can't smell because of allergies.

Capt Barry Stallard, of the San Jose fire department, said he was unsure what had been left in the fridge but said the smell was like rotting meat.

Dear me... next thing you know they'll be putting 'use by' dates on food!

Ironically the fridge was the cleanest part of the kitchen...

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