Police in Juneau, Alaska, have launched an investigation after a dozen kids and two adults were served floor sealant instead of milk at an elementary school.

The incident happened Tuesday morning when the milk and floor sealant containers were allegedly mixed up.

During breakfast for a summer program at ​​Sitʼ Eeti Shaanax-Glacier Valley Elementary, “students complained of the milk tasting bad and burning their mouth/throat,” according to a statement from the Juneau School District.

Employees then checked the milk container and label and “found that the ‘milk’ served was actually a floor sealant resembling liquid milk. Staff immediately directed students to stop consuming the substance and removed it.”

The school then contacted poison control and immediately informed parents about the situation. The breakfast at the program, which was attended by kids ages 5 to 12, was catered by NANA Management Services.

The company revealed it would be working with officials to find answers following the mix up. “We are supporting the full investigation, looking at every contributing factor to determine exactly what happened,” NANA Management Services said in a statement.

“This process is key to identifying potential safety measures and putting those safety measures to work.”

District Superintendent Bridget Weiss revealed that along with the floor sealant having a similar appearance to milk, both liquids are stored in large plastic bags inside cardboard boxes.

Weiss said police don’t believe there’s “anything criminal or mal-intent at this point, but we do want a thorough investigation of what happened, how it happened, and they’re trained investigators.”

Authorities will also investigate why the floor sealant chemicals were stored in the same building as food items.

A total of 12 students ingested the floor sealant, and at least one child was later treated at a hospital.

Milk
The photo shows milk being poured into a glass. Getty Images/ Graeme Robertson
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