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