50 hospitalized for food poisoning

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): At least 57 out of 315 freshmen students at Jenderal Soedirman University's School of Animal Husbandry were treated at a local military hospital for food poisoning on Thursday, an official said on Friday.

"Currently, there are still 50 students receiving treatment at Purwokerto Military Hospital, down from 57 on Thursday," Hery Suprapto, deputy dean for student activities of the university's school of animal husbandry, told reporters.

The incident had affected the initiation program, which started on Thursday (scheduled to end on Sunday). Campus officials said the activities would be suspended until all the poisoned students were discharged from hospital.

He said the poisoning occurred after the majority of the new students, who were taking part in the campus's initiation program, had finished their lunch, which was provided by the campus' caterer, Ibu Darsun.

"Many of the students and members of the initiation program organizing committee, complained of nausea and vomiting later in the afternoon. Some even fell unconscious. Fifty-seven of them were then rushed to the military hospital for treatment," he said. "Some of them were allowed to leave hours later."

Hery said preliminary analysis showed that the students might have experienced food poisoning from the lunch, which was held quite late at 2 p.m.

He said that the menu served by the caterer consisted of oseng-oseng kentang (stir-fried potatoes with chili), string beans and boiled eggs, and rendang (meat cooked in coconut milk).

Dr. Supriyanto, a doctor at the hospital confirmed that the students had experienced food poisoning.

The police are questioning the caterer, Hery said. (45)