Police seize noodles as health precaution

TANGERANG (JP): The Curug subprecinct police have confiscated 20 packages of onion flavored instant noodles from a nearby stall as a precaution against suspected food poisoning which has recently inflicted eight people in the area.

The noodles, carrying two very popular brand names, have been identified as the possible cause of the illness of eight workers at the PT Marga Jaya Utama ceramics factory.

Police have confiscated the noodles of the two brand names at a stall owned by Mrs. Sinambela, located nearby where the eight men live.

When asked if any of the men had bought the noodles at her shop, Sinambela said she could not remember.

"If they did buy it here why aren't other people poisoned too...many buy noodles from my shop," she said.

The eight men, after receiving their wages last week, decided to buy 10 packages of onion flavored noodles which they cooked and ate together. The victims then took a watermelon for dessert.

The next morning all eight were suffering with diarrhea like symptoms that had to be treated at the Tangerang public hospital.

Though all eight are now healthy and have begun working again, doctors at the hospital have still not been able to determine the cause of their illness.

As quoted by Republika, Dr. Trisno from the Tangerang health office, believes that the cause of the diarrhea could have originated from either the noodles, water or watermelon.

"It could be any one of them," he said. (mds)