Toasty snack makes children ill

Parents' fears about what their children eat at school may be well-founded. Sixteen elementary school students in Central Java's capital city Semarang were immediately rushed to the hospital on Thursday with suspected food poisoning.

The students of SD Kalibanteng 1 and 3 elementary school in the city fell sick after consuming toast, making them dizzy and vomit.

The students, who were taken to Tugu Hospital for treatment, bought the cheese and chocolate-flavored toast from a sidewalk vendor, Jumadi, outside their school during school break and felt ill soon after.

"I always buy food from the trader but (on Thursday), after eating the toast, I felt dizzy and suffered from stomach cramps," said Dicky, one of the students hospitalized.

"When the school informed me, I immediately went there. I've already prohibited my son from buying unclean food, but he's a kid. What can I do," said the mother of Rizal Catur, another student.

Following the incident, Jumadi was taken along with his bread to the West Semarang Police Station. (JP/Suherdjoko)