A New Jersey school custodian accused last week of contaminating food and cafeteria utensils with urine, feces and saliva is not likely to pose any health risks to students and staff who came in contact with tainted items, Cumberland County health officials announced Wednesday.
Giovanni Impellizzeri, 25, of Vineland, worked at Elizabeth F. Moore School in Upper Deerfield, where he allegedly urinated on cafeteria cooking utensils, spit and rubbed his genitals on bread and sprayed bleach on food items, then shared videos of his actions on a messaging app.
Bodily fluid specimens collected from Impellizzeri were tested to determine any potential health risks, officials previously said.
“Based upon all available test results and clinical criteria, we have determined that the individual in question is not likely to pose any health risks,” the county health department reported.
Testing is ongoing, however.
“Additional tests are pending, and it is possible, but unlikely, that recommendations may change within the next week, however we wanted to provide the most updated information to date,” officials said. “The health and safety of the school community is a priority and additional information and recommendations will be provided as needed.”
Investigators determined that the Impellizzeri’s alleged acts occurred in the school between Oct. 26 and 30.
Employed by the district since 2019, Impellizzeri was arrested last week and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.
He’s charged with second-degree official misconduct and third-degree counts of aggravated assault, tampering with food products, endangering the welfare of a child and attempted endangering the welfare of children.
The Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office announced Wednesday that Impellizzeri is also charged with second-degree distribution of child pornography and third-degree possession of child porn, though they said these charges involved conduct in Vineland and did not involve allegations that he manufactured the child porn.
School officials said the building where Impellizzeri worked has been sanitized and that counselors were make available this week to help any students.
Parents have expressed outrage that they weren’t notified sooner about the nature of Impellizzeri’s alleged conduct and some have sought medical testing for their children.
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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.