Snack leaves 215 poisoned

Snack leaves 215 poisoned

BANDUNG: As many as 215 people suffered headaches and serious
digestion problems after eating snacks at the farewell party of
students of the Cimanggung state junior high school in Sumedang,
some 40 kilometers northeast of here on Saturday.

All the victims, who had diarrhea and were vomiting, were
treated at three health centers in Cicalengka, Sawahlega and
Parakan Muncang in the Sumedang regency.

A nurse at the Cicalengka health center, I'i Hadiati, said
that all of the victims had been allowed to go home after
necessary treatment, except for a five-year-old child, who had
continued to vomit since she was admitted on Saturday.

Second Inspector FH Goeltom, deputy chief of Bandung detective
Police confirmed the incident, saying that the students and their
parents might have been poisoned by the snacks they ate during
the party.

"Some of the victims said that the lemper (local cake made of
glutinous rice) smelled bad. It was probably spoiled," he said.

Police have questioned a teacher, who was in charge of the
catering, Goeltom said. "The teacher said some of the cakes were
bought in the market." (25/sur)