50 hospitalized for food poisoning

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)