West Java
CIANJUR – Nine Dead After Consuming Dangerous Homemade Alcohol Mix
A food poisoning incident in Cianjur, West Java has claimed nine lives after a group of villagers consumed a dangerous homemade alcoholic mixture at a local gathering last Thursday. Three additional victims were hospitalized, with one currently still receiving medical treatment and two others having been discharged, according to Channel News Asia.
The victims, all residents of Pademangan Village ranging in age from 29 to 55, had reportedly mixed 96 percent ethanol with soda and bottled drinks for consumption at the gathering. The ethanol, which was purchased through an online retailer, arrived in a five-liter container on Thursday evening, according to local police.
In the aftermath of consuming the mixture, the victims experienced severe symptoms of alcohol poisoning, including intense nausea, vomiting, debilitating headaches, loss of muscle control, and burning sensations in their chests. Several victims were discovered dead in their homes, while others passed away after being transported to medical facilities.
During their investigation, police located the container at one victim’s residence, which they believe was the location where the drinking gathering took place. In a subsequent incident, when local villagers attempted to dispose of the remaining alcohol by burning it, the liquid reportedly caused an explosion.
Preliminary investigation findings indicate the group had consumed non-food-grade alcohol, a substance typically reserved for external use as a disinfectant. Police authorities are continuing their investigation to determine if additional individuals were involved in the incident or present at the gathering.
In a separate but related incident in the neighboring region of Central Bogor, West Java, four people lost their lives and one remains in critical condition following another drinking event that occurred on Friday.
Police officials confirmed that the victims had consumed alcoholic mixed beverages, though the specific type of alcohol involved remains under investigation. Law enforcement officials are currently questioning two attendees from the event along with the alleged alcohol seller at the Central Bogor police station.
Canada
TORONTO – Family Files $10M Lawsuit After Fatal Food Poisoning at Dominican Resort
A $10 million lawsuit has been filed in Ontario Superior Court following the deaths of a Canadian mother and son who allegedly suffered fatal food poisoning at a Dominican Republic resort in December 2023. April Gougeon and her son Oliver died after eating at the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham Resort buffet, according to court documents filed on January 27.
The events began when the Gougeon family – April, her husband Stephen, and their sons Wesley and Oliver – arrived at the resort on December 28, 2023. After dining at the resort’s buffet around 9 p.m. that evening, all four family members began experiencing severe illness approximately nine hours later, with symptoms including nausea and vomiting starting around 6 a.m. the following morning.
According to the lawsuit, when Stephen Gougeon initially contacted the resort’s medical clinic for assistance, staff informed him that medical personnel could not come to the family in their hotel room. Despite emphasizing the urgency of their situation and their inability to travel to the clinic unassisted due to their conditions, the family was told that medical staff were required to remain at the clinic location per policy.
The situation escalated throughout the day, and by approximately 2:30 p.m., medical personnel finally went to the family’s room. All four family members were taken to the clinic, where they received intravenous treatment and antibiotics before being transferred to a local hospital by ambulance.
The court documents detail the rapid decline in April and Oliver’s conditions upon arrival at the hospital. Oliver experienced breathing difficulties and was administered oxygen and a sedative before going into cardiac arrest, which ultimately led to his death. April faced similar respiratory complications, fell unconscious after being placed on a ventilator, and also passed away shortly thereafter. A local coroner’s determination, cited in the court documents, indicated that both deaths resulted from “secondary causes related to food poisoning.”
Stephen and Wesley Gougeon received treatment at the hospital for two days before returning to Canada. In a statement released through his law firm, Stephen Gougeon expressed the family’s shock, saying that such an outcome was “the furthest thing from our minds.”
The lawsuit names multiple defendants including Wyndham Hotels, Air Transat Holidays A.T. Inc., Transat Tours Canada Inc., and the on-site medical clinic. The suit alleges several forms of negligence, including improper food handling and preparation at the buffet, inadequate staff training in food safety protocols, dismissal or downplaying of initial distress signals, and failure to provide timely medical assistance to the family.
Air Transat responded to the lawsuit with a statement expressing sorrow over the deaths while refuting the allegations made against them. The company stated that they provided support to the Gougeon family during the incident and emphasized their careful selection of suppliers, noting that the hotel operator has committed to cooperating with authorities in investigating these deaths.
The case has drawn attention to safety protocols at international resorts and the handling of medical emergencies at tourist destinations. Food Poisoning News has featured several stories of food poisoning at luxury resorts over the past year, including:
- Luxury resort facing legal trouble after food poisoning accusations
- Widespread illness affects British tourists in Cape Verde resorts
- 2 year old develops life-threatening complications from E. coli at Egyptian resort
India
MORADABAD – Food Poisoning Sickens 40 Wedding Party Attendees
Approximately 40 guests. were sickened by alleged food poisoning at a local wedding.
After eating dinner, the victims began complaining of common food poisoning symptoms, including stomach pain and dizzyness. Several experienced diarrhea and vomiting.
Many of those affected were taken to a local hospital for treatment. All have reportedly since been discharged.
KOLHAPUR – Mass Food Poisoning Affects 255 at Village Fair
A suspected case of food poisoning has affected 255 people who attended a village fair in India’s state of Maharashtra. The incident occurred following a Tuesday fair where kheer, a milk-based sweet dish, was distributed as prasad, a religious offering of food or water.
By Wednesday morning, attendees began reporting symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, and fever. While most patients received treatment and were discharged, approximately 50 individuals remain hospitalized. Medical officials report that all hospitalized patients are in stable condition.
Local police authorities are investigating the source of the illness. Although many affected individuals consumed the kheer, the fair also featured various food stalls. To determine the exact cause of the outbreak, police have collected food samples from the fair and sent them to a forensic laboratory for analysis.
Pakistan
LAHORE – Food Poisoning Strikes Over 360 Wedding Guests
A severe food poisoning incident at a wedding reception in Lahore’s Johar Town has led to over 360 people falling ill, with more than 200 requiring hospitalization. The event occurred during the wedding ceremony of a local resident, according to The Express Tribune.
Guests began experiencing symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and severe stomach pain shortly after consuming the wedding meal. Emergency services responded by transporting affected individuals to multiple hospitals across Lahore for treatment.
At General Hospital Lahore, nine patients were reported to be in critical condition. Raiwind Indus Hospital admitted 27 guests, while the University of Lahore Hospital received seven patients. Additional cases were treated at Kasur DHQ Hospital, which handled over ten affected guests, and various private and public hospitals in Narowal treated 31 patients.
The groom attributed the incident to the wedding location’s food service, claiming they provided poor quality and unhygienic food. In response to the incident, local food safety teams have collected samples of the affected food for testing.
Law enforcement has opened an investigation into the incident, registering an official complaint against those allegedly responsible for the mass food poisoning. Local authorities have pledged to take action pending the results of their investigation.
Kenya
EMBU – Mass Food Poisoning at Kenyan School Affects 68 Students
A food poisoning incident at a secondary school in Embu, Kenya has resulted in 68 students requiring medical attention after consuming contaminated meat from a bull’s head during a motivational feast.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, primarily affected final year students who ate the specially prepared animal part.
According to the school principal, the contamination was isolated to students who consumed the boiled bull’s head, while other students who ate different parts of the animal remained unaffected.
The severity of the situation became apparent on Friday morning when students began experiencing intense abdominal pain and diarrhea, prompting immediate medical intervention.
Of the affected students, 55 received treatment and were discharged from Kiritiri Sub-County Hospital. Thirteen students initially required admission for continued observation, with three cases necessitating transfer to Embu Referral Hospital due to worsening conditions. The remaining ten students were kept at Ketioe Health Centre for monitoring. School officials confirmed that all students who were hospitalized are now in stable condition.
Health officials reported that preliminary investigations identified improper hygiene practices during the preparation of the bull’s head as the likely source of contamination. The incident also affected two teachers who had consumed the same piece of meat. Public health officials have initiated an investigation into the school’s food safety protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The timing of the incident is particularly significant as it involved Form Four students, who are in their final year of secondary education. The feast was originally intended as a motivational event for the school community before being marred by the food poisoning outbreak.
The school principal issued assurances to concerned parents regarding the welfare of their children and said that all affected students were receiving appropriate medical care and showing positive signs of recovery.
The school administration is cooperating fully with health officials during their investigation to identify any systemic issues that may have contributed to the contamination.
This incident follows a similar case of mass food poisoning in Vihiga, where 47 people required hospitalization at a local hospital after consuming contaminated food at a church function. The victims in that December incident had consumed rice and beans and presented with similar symptoms including stomach pain, diarrhea, and headaches.
Germany
BREMEN – Bayern’s Sané Scores After Recovery from Food Poisoning
Winger Leroy Sané of the German Bundesliga’s Bayern Munich made a remarkable return to action, scoring a goal as a substitute in Bayern’s 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen despite being hospitalized for food poisoning just days before the match, according to bavarianfootballworks.com.
According to Tz journalist Philipp Kessler, Sané required overnight hospital treatment two days prior to the game due to the severity of his condition. While fellow winger Serge Gnabry was ruled out of the match due to similar gastrointestinal issues, Sané managed to recover in time to make the game.
The German international entered the game as a substitute and promptly found the back of the net, contributing Bayern’s second goal in their commanding win. His performance was particularly timely given that he was initially only expected to be available as an emergency option for the match due to his recent illness.
