19 at INPARADISE in Taipei suffer suspected food poisoning

Taipei, Jan. 8 (CNA) A total of 19 people who ate at INPARADISE's Breeze Xinyi Branch between Jan. 5-6 in Taipei have sought medical attention for suspected food poisoning as of Wednesday noon, according to the Taipei City Government Department of Health.

The affected diners developed symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stomachache and diarrhea after eating at the restaurant chain, the department said.

The department said it launched an investigation and ordered the restaurant to suspend operations as soon as it received reports of suspected food poisoning on Tuesday.

Investigators have collected four environmental samples from the restaurant to match with specimens from the patients.

The department will apply for epidemiology investigations with the Ministry of Health and Welfare Centers for Disease Control, in compliance with ministry regulations.

Meanwhile, Lin Kuan-chen (林冠蓁), head of the department's Food and Pharmaceutical Management Division, said an order to suspend operations was delivered to the restaurant on Tuesday afternoon. However, department staff found that the restaurant was still doing business that evening.

Therefore, an administrative fine of NT$3 million (US$91,256), the maximum penalty, will be handed down to the restaurant in accordance with the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, Lin said.