North Macedonia
North Macedonia’s Defense Minister announced at a press conference last week that the Army has ended its contract with a catering company responsible for a food poisoning incident that affected 60 service members.
The decision was not politically motivated, said the minister, but rather based on recommendations from a committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the Army, and the Army’s General Staff. The committee reviewed reports, identified food safety issues, and advised terminating the agreement.
The minister assured that the contract termination followed all legal protocols and stressed that maintaining the army’s combat readiness and ensuring the safety of personnel were his top priorities.
As a temporary measure, all army members and ministry staff will receive food allowances in accordance with the army’s collective agreement.
This announcement came during a press conference marking the government’s first 100 days in office. The Defense Minister revealed that health inspectors had discovered bacteria-contaminated surfaces during a sanitation check, resulting in health violations for the catering company. Despite being cited, the caterer failed to address these unsanitary conditions, leading to the contract’s termination.
Moving forward, the Ministry of Defense will either allow bids from other catering services or continue providing food allowances to soldiers and staff from the national budget. The minister said that the decision would be based on the preferences of the majority of army members and employees.
Australia
The health agency of the state of New South Wales (NSW) has issued a warning about a significant rise in gastroenteritis cases, especially among young children.
The increase in illnesses is being driven by two common pathogens: rotavirus and norovirus, both of which cause vomiting and diarrhoea. NSW Health said that reported rotavirus cases have reached “some of their highest levels in recent years.”
The health agency noted that hospital visits due to gastroenteritis are particularly high in children under five. Officials are also concerned the outbreak could worsen once school holidays end and children return to classrooms.
“The key message for the community is that simple precautions can help curb the spread,” an agency spokesperson said, “Good hand hygiene and keeping sick children at home are essential steps to prevent further transmission.”
Last week alone, over 2,700 people visited NSW hospitals with gastro symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headaches, and muscle aches. The illness can take up to three days to manifest and typically lasts one to two days, though in some cases, symptoms may persist longer.
NSW Health advises parents to keep children with gastro symptoms at home and ensure they stay home for at least 48 hours after their last symptoms subside. Thorough hand washing and cleaning clothes in hot water are recommended, as the virus can spread through contact with vomit or stool particles.
The health authority also reminded parents that immunisation against rotavirus is available for free for children under six months and is strongly recommended.
South Africa
GAUTENG – Food poisoning is suspected in the illness of 25 primary school students in South Africa’s Gauteng Province on Thursday. The students fell ill after consuming snacks from street vendors near their school.
A Gauteng provincial official reported that the children began experiencing symptoms such as body itching and stomach pains shortly after eating the snacks. All affected students were taken to medical facilities for treatment.
By Thursday afternoon, 22 of the 25 affected children had been discharged after receiving medical care. Two students were taken to private healthcare facilities by their parents, while one child remained under observation at a local clinic.
In response to the incident, local law enforcement and health authorities have launched an investigation into the safety of food items sold by street vendors near the school. The provincial official emphasized the importance of vigilance among parents, guardians, and school staff to prevent such occurrences in the future.
This event is not isolated, as it follows a troubling pattern of food-related illnesses in the region. Over the past week, more than 80 students from Gauteng and neighboring Limpopo province have required medical attention for suspected food poisoning. In Naledi, six children have died in the past week after consuming allegedly tainted food from a local snack shop.
WEST RAND – A food poisoning incident on Thursday, October 10, that sickened 74 female students attending a camp has resulted in calls for a probe into the matter.
While there were no deaths from the event, members of the Democratic Alliance have demanded action after a similar incident in Naledi, where six children recently died after eating contaminated food from a local snack shop.
The political party called on local stakeholders to investigate all of the incidents, with special focus on “handling and storage, production, retailing, distribution, processing, and packaging.”
Discussions have also begun with the mayor’s office to increase health and safety inspections in the city with a focus on ensuring greater compliance from snack shops.
Israel
Nearly 100 cadets from an Israeli Defense Force training center were affected by a recent food poisoning incident.
Media said that the cadets had been complaining about spoiled food but that their complaints had been ignored by the base’s command.
A military spokesperson acknowledged the incident and said it was under investigation.
All soldiers have since been treated.
Singapore
A caterer has been fined the equivalent of USD 915 for a 2023 food poisoning incident that affected 107 people.
Nosh Cuisine was hired in May 2023 to supply meals to eight preschools. Between May 22 and May 29, 2023, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) received multiple reports of food poisoning symptoms from the preschools.
Altogether, 96 children and 11 adults were affected with symptoms of gastroenteritis. Eight were hospitalized and all were discharged without additional complications.
An investigation conducted by SFA and the Ministry of Health (MOH) found that Nosh Cuisine had suffered several food safety lapses. The caterer’s operations were suspended shortly after.
Two months later, the suspension was lifted after the business had complied with all food safety measures.
India
PUNE – A suspected food poisoning incident occurred at a school in Pune last Thursday, resulting in the hospitalization of about 30 students. The affected students fell ill after consuming sandwiches served for breakfast at the school.
Some students began vomiting and feeling unwell immediately after eating the sandwiches, which had been provided to approximately 350 students.
The first group of 18 students arrived at the hospital around 1 PM, complaining of dizziness, stomach pain, and vomiting. By 3 PM, the number of admitted students had risen to 30.
All affected students received prompt treatment and were discharged by evening after receiving primary medical care. Hospital staff suggested that the sandwiches served during breakfast at the school may have been the cause of the suspected food poisoning.
This incident follows a similar occurrence on October 1st in Thane, where 38 students were hospitalized after consuming a dish of rice and lentils at school.
HYDERABAD – A series of inspections by local food safety officials has uncovered significant hygiene issues in several city eateries. The inspections, conducted earlier this month, revealed ten establishments with significant rat and cockroach infestations, highlighting a widespread sanitation problem.
Health experts are concerned about the serious health risks associated with such infestations since rodents and cockroaches are known to carry a variety of harmful microorganisms that can cause severe illnesses, ranging from food poisoning to more serious conditions like typhoid and even leprosy.
The inspections covered a wide range of establishments, from popular restaurants to hospital cafeterias.
A representative from the Indian Medical Association warned about the potential consequences of these unsanitary conditions, explaining that consuming food prepared in such environments can lead to rapid onset of food poisoning symptoms, which may progress to more severe health complications if left untreated.
Another healthcare professional detailed the specific diseases associated with rodent and cockroach infestations. These include leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, and various bacterial infections that can have serious impacts on human health.
THANE – Students from a school in Thane have been hospitalized after experiencing symptoms of food poisoning on Thursday.
After eating a lunch of rice and lentils at the school, a number of students began complaining of upset stomachs. Doctors came to the school to assess the situation before taking the 41 students to a local hospital for treatment.
The students were treated and all are currently in stable condition.
The school kitchen was inspected by food safety officials and samples from the lunch were taken for analysis. An investigation will follow, according to officials.
VARKALA – A food poisoning incident at two restaurants in Varkala affected up to 79 patrons.
Forty-seven people were taken to a local hospital and the other thirty-two sought treatment at a nearby medical facility. All are said to be in stable condition and doctors expected them to be discharged in a few days after observation.
Food safety officials immediately closed both restaurants and took samples for testing from each of them.
This is the second incident at one of the restaurants this year after 100 people were affected by an outbreak of food poisoning in March . The restaurant was also shut down at that time but later reopened.
