Timeline: Food poisoning

Several food-poisoning cases have been reported since the start of the year. Two people died in a milk tea poisoning incident in Manila and thousands were downed in separate incidents nationwide.

April 9. Three persons drank a contaminated beverage in a milk tea shop in Sampaloc, Manila, leaving two persons dead—ErgoCha owner William Abrigo and customer Suzaine Dagohoy—and sending another customer to the hospital. Toxicology tests showed oxalic acid was ingested by the victims.

June 7. More than 70 orphaned and homeless beneficiaries from the Manila Boystown Complex in Parang, Marikina City, ended up in the hospital. The boys, ages 7 to 17, were served hot dogs, hard-boiled eggs and rice during an outreach program.

July 2. More than 100 elementary school students were hospitalized in San Carlos City in Pangasinan province after chewing a fruit-flavored gum.

July 10. Close to 2,000 people, most of them students in the Caraga region, complained of symptoms consistent with food poisoning after eating durian candies. Initial results of laboratory analysis indicated the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus as the cause of the food poisoning.

July 16. Nine students of Juan Sumulong High School in Quezon City ended up in the hospital after eating candies that an ambulant vendor sold on campus. Signs of pesticide poisoning were detected in the case.

July 24. At least 350 students of Real Elementary School in Calamba City in Laguna province fell ill after partaking of cupcakes and ice candy distributed during a storytelling event.

Aug. 3. “Pancit Malabon” bought from AC Take Out in Ligao City in Albay province downed more than 40 people.

Aug. 1-4. At least 24 people consumed food at Yakimix Restaurant in Marquee Mall, Angeles City. They ended up in the hospital.–Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives, CNN Philippines