The Keelung, and Yilan and Hualien county governments on Friday announced a ban on the use of flat rice noodles in school lunches amid safety concerns, following a fatal food poisoning incident believed to have been caused by a dish containing the ingredient.
At least 28 people fell ill after eating at a branch of the Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam in Taipei last week. Two died on Sunday last week and Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.
Most of the people who fell ill said they had eaten the menu item char kway teow (炒粿條) — a stir-fried flat rice noodle dish with egg — between Tuesday and Sunday last week, the ministry said.
Photo: Taipei Times
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control confirmed that bongkrek acid, a toxin produced in fermented corn or coconut contaminated by the bacterium Burkholderia gladioli, was detected in eight diners, including the two who died.
The Yilan and Hualien county governments announced that flat rice noodles would be banned from school lunches until further notice, effective immediately, to safeguard students’ health, while Keelung said it would begin a similar ban starting tomorrow.
The local governments said they would use other ingredients to replace flat rice noodles, adding that the suspension would remain until safety concerns surrounding bongkreki acid poisoning end.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education instructed schools not to use reheated food or “semi-finished food products that no longer need to be cooked” for school lunches, without elaborating on what the later part means.
The ministry reminded schools and meal providers that school meals have to be made on the same day they are served.
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