Victims of food poisoning in Sagay City have now recovered

BACOLOD CITY — At least 80 persons who suffered from food poisoning in three villages in Sagay City on Good Friday have recovered.

Wally Afuang, head of the Sagay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the patients were discharged Sunday from the Alfredo E. Maranon Sr. Memorial District Hospital and the Lopez District Farmers Hospital Inc.

The Sagay City government said it paid for the needs of those who were hospitalized.

Of the 80 residents who were affected, 61 were given first aid while 49 were confined in the hospital, said Sagay Mayor Alfredo Marañon III.

The patients suffered from food poisoning after eating a dessert called “binignit,” a sweet dish usually prepared on Good Friday.

Afuang said the food poisoning was caused by a root crop called “kayos,” a poisonous yam when not properly prepared.

The yam known as Dioscorea hispida is poisonous when eaten fresh.

Those who ate the binignit suffered nausea, stomach pains, and vomiting.

Afuang said a resident harvested a lot of “kayos” on Thursday and shared it with relatives who cooked binignit.