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3 Evaluated After Exposure to ‘Food Item' at LaGuardia: Officials

A mysterious white powder that sent three TSA agents from LaGuardia Airport to the hospital Wednesday morning was a 'food item', emergency officials say.

Port Authority police said two TSA agents complained after they were exposed to a "white powder"  inside Terminal B, Concourse D at the airport about 5:50 a.m.

By 7 a.m., three agents had been taken to hospital due to exposure to the substance in the bag. Port Authority spokesman Joseph Pentangelo said none of the agents suffered serious injuries, and the NYC Department of Health had seized the bag.

"The substance is deemed-non explosive and determined to be a food item/spice," Pentangelo said.

The bag of white powder was initially going through a checkpoint in a carry-on bag when it was picked up, officials said.

The FDNY was called and Port Authority police were notified.

The checkpoint was closed for about 40 minutes, but reopened at 6:26 a.m. Chopper video from the scene showed numerous emergency crews packing the road outside the terminal during the scare.

People were being allowed into and out of the terminal, but emergency crews continued to investigate through the early part of the morning with delays and long lines at the terminal up to 8:30 a.m.

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