China News Service, Taipei, March 27 (Reporter Yang Chengchen) A suspected food poisoning incident occurred in Taipei City. Many people developed physical symptoms after eating at a vegetarian restaurant in Xinyi District. As of press time on the 27th, 9 people were feeling unwell, 7 of them sought medical treatment and 1 died.
The Taipei City Health Bureau received reports of two suspected cases of food poisoning on the 24th. After eating at the "Baolin Tea Room" in the city's Yuanbai Xinyi Shopping Mall, two people developed symptoms such as vomiting and abdominal pain and sought medical treatment. In the following days, the Health Bureau received multiple reports of suspected food poisoning.
The youngest of the nine cases is only 10 years old, and the earliest person who ate at the vegetarian restaurant was March 19. 9 people on average consumed rice-based foods including rice noodles and rice noodles, and their symptoms were mostly vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. A 40-year-old man who lives in New Taipei Province became unwell after eating on the 22nd. He was pronounced dead due to acute renal failure after going to the hospital the next day. His companion had mild symptoms and has now returned home to recuperate. The prosecutor inspected the body of the deceased on the 25th.
On the night of the 26th, another case in Taipei City was reported to have suffered from liver failure and coma, two cases received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and two people were sent to the intensive care unit for rescue due to worsening conditions. Huang Jianxian, the attending doctor at Xinguang Hospital, which receives critically ill patients, said that similar poisoning situations are relatively rare, and cases appear more seriously, urgently and quickly.
Taiwan's "United Daily News" quoted an unnamed emergency physician on the 27th as speculating that the food poisoning may be caused by Bongkrekic Acid toxin, which can be fatal in just 1 mg. The doctor believes that rice fermentation acid may come from improperly preserved fermented rice and rice products. Even if the food is cooked, it does not necessarily protect diners from poisoning.
On the 24th, the Taipei City Health Bureau found three "hygienic deficiencies" at the "Baolin Tea House" restaurant, including failure to provide employee health examination information, suspected cockroach excrement on the dishes, and knives placed on the cooking table.
According to Taiwan media reports, because all the ingredients for the deceased’s meal on the 22nd had been used up, the cause of death of the deceased cannot be confirmed yet. The Taipei City Health Bureau has ordered the "Baolin Teahouse" to suspend operations and stop serving meals. The bureau is jointly investigating the case with the health and welfare authorities of the Taiwan authorities and relevant experts. (over)