Binangkal poisoning victims reach 13

FROM 11 last Thursday, the number of victims in San Fernando town, south Cebu, who fell ill after eating binangkal, a popular deep-fried pastry, reached 13 yesterday.

Dr. Angelita Salarda of the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) said the patients confined at the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar City are vomiting but not severely ill.

“The flour used was of third class and appeared sandy,” she said. The round, deep-fried bread with sesame seeds was prepared by 69-year-old Cristita Bernabe for relatives and friends. She, too, fell ill.

Samples of binangkal, its ingredients and utensils used in preparing it were brought to the Department of Science and Technology for laboratory tests. /Correspondent Jessa Chrisna Marie J. Agua