City authorities still investigating food poisoning

JAKARTA (JP): The City Health Office and the police are still investigating food samples that caused the hospitalization of hundreds of factory workers last week in Cakung, North Jakarta.

"We will find out the test results of the food poisoning tomorrow," said Suhardi, a member of the health office team.

Eighty-six workers from PT Gumilang Unggul, a raincoat factory, were admitted to Cakung Islamic Hospital Friday, a few hours after they had lunch at the factory. Sixty-three have been discharged over the past three days.

The workers suffered from various symptoms such as nausea, headaches, spasms, and diarrhea, according to the head of the hospital's medical team, Siti Ambarwati.

She said the hospital had sent the medical records of all factory workers to the police and the City Health Office for further investigation.

The City Health Office sent yesterday two separate teams to investigate the case. One will investigate food samples and the other will check patients before and after they were hospitalized.

Supartini, one of the workers, told health officials that she was short of breath and had diarrhea four hours after eating a meal of fried egg and soup.

Suhardi, another member of the health team, said he suspected that the meal had been contaminated by bacteria, given the four- hour incubation period between the food consumption and the appearance of food-poisoning symptoms.

Suhardi said the health team was also investigating whether the catering company which supplied food to the factory is registered with the Ministry of Health. He did not name the catering company.

"Factories should know that they must have qualified food caterers with proper cooking facilities," he said.

He said the office had been organizing regular training for food caterers before cooperating with companies to supply food for workers.

Bambang Singgih, the factory's operations manager, said that the factory has terminated its contract with the food catering service.

The latest case of food poisoning was reported in Bekasi on March 10.

Some students there were admitted to nearby hospitals and clinics after eating food sold by vendors at their school.

At least seven patients between eight and 10-years-old were treated at Bekasi General Hospital. (03)