French restaurant in Taichung under investigation after 13 fall sick

Taichung/Taipei, Oct. 24 (CNA) A French restaurant in Taichung is being investigated after 13 diners were treated for suspected food poisoning, city authorities said Friday.

In a news release, Taichung's Office of Food and Drug Safety said it was made aware of a suspected food poisoning case by the Ministry of Health and Welfare-operated Taichung Hospital Thursday evening.

According to the office, 13 individuals developed acute gastroenteritis with symptoms such as nausea, stomachache, vomiting and diarrhea after dining at a French restaurant in Taichung's West District.

Of the 13, 10 sought medical attention before being discharged from the hospital, the office said.

The office said it immediately launched an investigation, adding that agents collected samples during the unnamed restaurant's opening hours on Friday to test for pathogens.

Inspectors discovered a lack of enforcement regarding temperature recording, the office said, adding that several seafood and pork products used by the restaurant were either not properly documented or came from unsanctioned sources.

The Taichung City government went on to add that if the pathogen tests come back positive, the French restaurant could face a fine between NT$60,000 (US$1,950) and NT$200 million in accordance with the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

Additionally, if tests show the presence of the same pathogens as those collected from the 13 diners who fell ill, the owners of the French restaurant could face legal consequences.

Taipei

Meanwhile, in Taipei, six people fell ill after dining at the Happy Cow Sukiyaki Hotpot restaurant located inside the capital's Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Nanxi Store shopping center.

As the six individuals were revealed to have come from different parties who dined at the restaurant between Monday and Tuesday, the city's Department of Health said it had already ordered the eatery to shut down.

A search on Wednesday found that several refrigerated ingredients, such as vegetables and beef, were not properly covered, the department said, adding it had given the restaurant until Monday to rectify the issues.

Agents also collected samples from pitchers of raw beaten eggs -- an ingredient traditionally used as a dip in the Japanese hotpot dish sukiyaki -- for pathogen tests.