80 people were rushed to the hospital for eating spoiled food in Roxas City

Miami
October 2, 2008
Story: 80 people were rushed to the hospital for eating spoiled food in Roxas City

Grandparents were reportedly hospitalized after they ate the food that was served to them at the launching of Senior Citizens Week in Roxas City in Capiz, Wednesday afternoon.

There were about 600 grandparents ages from 60 to 80, from 47 barangays of Rozxas City attended the said event. 80 of them experienced abdominal pains, vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness after eating the food that was given to them during the lunch time.

The event where held at the civic center at the back of their City Hall.

“They had their lunch between 12:00 noon to 1:00pm, the local government of the Roxas City is the one who took care of their foods. For those 80 grandparents, they were served rice with chopseuy (mixed vegetables) and sweet ham, then at around 6:00 pm they already vomit and had diarrhea,” Dr. Elmer Bucayan explained to Manila Shimbun. He is the Department of Health Representative for Capiz.

Out of 80, only 28 were confined at the hospital, the rest were out-patients. Nine are being treated at the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (government owned hospital), 13 at the St. Anthony College Hospital and six at the Capiz Emmanuel Hospital.

Bucayan said that they are investigating the incident. They want to know what time does the food was cooked before it was served to them. He said there is a probability that the food was spoiled before lunch time.

He also added that base on their initial investigation, only those who ate the meal that has chopseuy and sweet ham were hospitalized.

“Others had different food that was served to them. Some foods were fried chicken but they did not experience anything,” Bucayan added.

Bucayan also said that all of the patients were out of danger.

Despite the incident, Bucayan said the event still ongoing as the City celebrates the week for their senior citizens residents.