Sick tummies halt factory

Sick tummies halt factory

INDONESIA: Yarn manufacturer PT Bhineka Karya Mandiri
was forced to halt production on Saturday when more than half of
its 150 workers were hospitalized for exhibiting symptoms of food
poisoning.

Bhineka human resources manager Cecep Jumara said the company
suspected that the lunch provided on Friday by a caterer was the
culprit.

The sick workers suffered frequent vomiting and diarrhea.

Sarmili, 25, an electrician at the company, said he
experienced symptoms on Saturday morning.

"When I got to the office at about 10 a.m., I was surprised to
learn that almost everybody had the same problem," he said.

He suspected that the rendang -- meat simmered in spices and
coconut milk -- in the lunch box had gone bad, because those who
had not eaten it did not fall ill.

The police have taken food samples from the lunch box for
laboratory tests. -- JP