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)