Bongkrekic acid found in 8 food poisoning cases; none in food samples

Taipei, March 29 (CNA) The latest data indicates that all eight individuals designated "severe cases" in an ongoing food poisoning outbreak have tested positive for the toxin Bongkrekic acid, but none was found in food samples, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Friday.

At a press conference, CDC Deputy Director-General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said that among the eight cases, two have died, five remain in intensive care, and one is being treated in a general ward.

As of 5:30 p.m. on Friday, 21 people had reported falling ill after eating at the Xinyi branch of the Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam in Taipei.

Of those, 18 sought medical attention in the Greater Taipei area and Tainan after visiting the restaurant between March 19 and March 24, according to CDC figures.

Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Victor Wang (王必勝) said that tests conducted on 19 food samples from the restaurant and its suppliers, including two types of rice noodles -- flat rice noodle and vermicelli -- and pandan leaves, tested negative for Bongkrekic acid.

Wang said that a total of 35 samples were collected at the restaurant. Three priority samples of the two types of rice noodles and pandan leaves, along with 16 other samples of two types of rice noodles from the supplier, Jiang Da Co., tested negative for Bongkrekic acid, Wang added.

Tests are still to be conducted on 32 other food samples, which do not include rice noodles, but do include seasoning powder, soy sauce, and other items, Wang said.

Despite the negative results of tests on both types of rice noodles from the supplier and restaurant, Wang noted that rice noodles remain a key focus in the food poisoning outbreak.

In addition, Wang noted that the ministry is currently retrieving all rice noodles sold by the supplier to downstream manufacturers to test and prevent further escalation of the outbreak.

Related News

Q&A/Four things to know about Bongkrekic acid

March 29: Owner of restaurant chain at center of food poisoning outbreak apologizes

March 29: Taipei city fines restaurant following deadly food poisoning outbreak

March 29: 8 test positive for Bongkrekic acid in food poisoning outbreak

March 29: Bongkrekic acid found in 2nd Taipei food poisoning victim

March 28: Tests on deceased in Taipei food poisoning case finds Bongkrekic acid

March 28: Three staff members at food poisoning restaurant banned from leaving Taiwan

March 27: Taipei restaurant chain closed amid probe into suspected food poisoning deaths

March 27: Suspected food poisoning outbreak in Taipei restaurant leaves one dead