Taipei drops caterer after suspected food poisoning

• By Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA

• • Add TT as Preferred Source

  • 

  • 

  • 

The Taipei Department of Education yesterday said it is terminating contracts with a school lunch caterer after dozens of students at two separate schools reported suspected food poisoning symptoms after eating meals provided by the vendor this week.

On Tuesday, Chengyuan High School told the Taipei Department of Health that 87 students had experienced diarrhea and displayed symptoms suspected to be food poisoning from 10pm on Monday.

Another school with the same contractor has been linked to a suspected food poisoning outbreak, after Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei City Councilor Hung Wan-chen (洪婉臻) said students at Da Li Senior High School had complained of physical discomfort after eating school lunches.

Taipei Department of Health officials inspect the cafeteria at Chengyuan High School on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of the Taipei Department of Health

Taipei Department of Education Director-General Tang Chih-min (湯志民) said they had received reports of more than 10 students from Da Li feeling unwell this week and are investigating whether their symptoms were linked to the lunches.

Students who reported their illness on Thursday were diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis, the department said.

City officials investigated the schools on Tuesday and have been monitoring the students’ conditions, it said.

The health department said that after the first school’s report, it had asked schools to step up disinfection and said they would conduct surprise inspections to ensure food preparation environments and catering quality meet standards.

The catering company has terminated its contract with Chengyuan, and the Department of Education is discussing the termination of the caterer’s contract with Dali, Tang said.

Hung said the contractor continues to provide meals to other schools, including Da Li’s junior-high division, where students reported gastrointestinal discomfort from Monday to Thursday.

The city has expanded inspections and would require immediate improvements when deficiencies are found, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said, adding that follow-up inspections would cover ingredients, cooking and catering procedures, and sanitation.

DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) said the problem might not be the caterer, but the food supplier.

Authorities should investigate as soon as a contractor begins showing problems, he added.