India – 251 Students Hospitalized After Eating Cookies
Last Saturday, 251 students, aged 6 to 14 years old, from a school in India’s Maharashtra state, were hospitalized after eating breakfast provided as part of the school’s meal program.
The incident occurred when students were given cookies instead of their regular meal of khichdi, a healthy dish made of lentils, rice, and spices. Within 45 minutes of consumption, students began experiencing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomachache, and fever. By Sunday, eight more students were admitted to hospital with food poisoning symptoms.
Out of the 251 students hospitalized, 181 have been discharged. A doctor from the local hospital reported that 60 patients had severe symptoms of food poisoning and dehydration. Seven students with severe symptoms were referred to a larger general hospital for advanced medical care.
A field hospital has been set up in the local village to screen children and adults for food poisoning symptoms.
Authorities suspect the cookies, which were purchased by school officials, may have been stale or contaminated, leading to the poisoning. Samples have been sent to a laboratory for analysis, and a government agency has also collected samples. Local police and the health department are investigating the incident.
Japan – Contaminated Rice Cakes Sicken 36
A food poisoning outbreak in Kiryu, eastern Japan, affected 36 people who consumed “ohagi” rice cakes from a local pastry shop on August 13 and 14. The incident was announced by the local government on Wednesday.
Ohagi, traditional rice cakes coated with sweet toppings like red bean paste, are often eaten during the mid-August Bon period, a traditional Buddhist festival honoring the spirits of deceased ancestors.
Five individuals, between 50 and 90 years old, required hospitalization due to diarrhea and nausea. All have since been discharged and are recovering.
A government investigation revealed Staphylococcus aureus in the shop’s cooking utensils and in stool samples from two affected individuals. As a result, authorities ordered the pastry shop to suspend operations for three days starting August 21.
Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacterium that is commonly found not only on the skin and in the noses of healthy people, but also in raw food and food-producing animals. Staphylococcus aureus can cause severe illness, particularly in those suffering from cancer, diabetes, eczema, lung disease, and IV drug users.
A recent outbreak of food poisoning at a department store restaurant near Tokyo that resulted in one death and 150 illnesses was linked to eel dishes also contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus.
To minimize future incidents of food poisoning the government has emphasized the importance of frequent hand washing and proper cleaning of cooking utensils.
Singapore – Restaurant Suspended Over Multiple Food Safety Violations
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has suspended the license of Al Jasra restaurant in the Kembangan neighborhood for two weeks due to food safety violations. The establishment, known for its 24-hour prata (fried flatbread) buffet, will be closed from August 20 to September 2.
Al Jasra accumulated 12 violation points within a year, resulting in a fine of S$800 (US$612). The restaurant received six violation points on two separate occasions for failing to keep its premises free of infestation.
Under SFA regulations, food establishments that accumulate 12 or more violation points in a 12-month period may face license suspension for two to four weeks or even cancellation. The agency affirmed the importance of maintaining good food and personal hygiene practices, including proper upkeep of licensed premises and employing only registered food handlers.
During the suspension period, all food handlers and hygiene officers employed at Al Jasra must retake and pass food safety courses to ensure that staff are up-to-date with proper food handling and hygiene protocols before they can return to work.
The SFA has urged the public to report any potentially errant food operations and said the agency will take firm action against violations of health laws meant to protect the public.
Commenting on this article, one national food poisoning attorney said, “Although individuals should follow good food safety practices at home, it is even more critical that restaurants, caterers, schools, and any place serving food to large numbers of people strictly adhere to safety standards. If not, the impact from supplying contaminated food can increase significantly.”
