BLOOMINGTON - Discovery of a food powder in a restroom prompted a contamination scare Thursday afternoon at the Social Security Administration office. | Photo gallery | Video

Seventeen employees and about 10 clients were evacuated about 2:30 p.m. from the building at 207 N. Williamsburg Drive.

Bloomington firefighters, including their hazardous-materials response team, police, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security responded to the scene, which was cordoned off.

The employees were kept in a tent at the scene as a precaution while the material was tested. Officials announced at 6 p.m. that they determined it to be some sort of powdered food product that contained garlic.

"We've ID'd the substance as a non-harzardous material," Bloomington Deputy Fire Chief Les Siron said. "We're turning it (the scene) back to Social Security."

There will be no further police investigation because there is no evidence of criminal intent, Bloomington police spokesman Dave White said.

Homeland Security officials also reviewed the evidence and determined it was benign, White and Siron said.

No one sought or required medical treatment, Siron said.

The incident began when the powder was discovered in a public restroom, authorities said.

"We ushered everyone out," said the man in charge of the office, Bill Carter, district manager of the Social Security Administration.

The entire building and its yard were cordoned off by yellow tape labeled "Caution: Hazardous material," and orange traffic cones were set up.

The workers and bystanders stood in the parking lot and observed while a security guard stood by the building entrance. Motorists trying to enter the parking lot were turned way.

"I saw everybody run out," said Tracy Russ, who lives in an apartment overlooking the office.

Among those waiting at the scene were custodians Drew Bolender and Justin Lankford, both of Normal, who said they were in the building about half an hour Wednesday night. They said they noticed an odd smell that seemed like pungent, spicy food.

"Curry was the first thing that popped into my head," Bolender said.

The Social Security office is the only occupant of the building.

People needing to take care of Social Security matters were frustrated at being turned away.

"This just ruined the rest of my day," said Walter Lucas of Bloomington. "I was going to reopen my (Social Security) case. The security guard was quite adamant. He said it was closed the rest of the day."

Karen Casali, Normal, said: "I need a paper to refinance my house to get a fixed rate, so I don't have to be scared (of her mortgage interest rate increasing)."

Carter said he did not know how many customers had to be turned away, but the office typically serves about 100 clients in person each day.

The office's normal closing time is 4 p.m.