Free nutritious lunches for elementary and middle schools in Taipei City in the new semester have raised concerns about food poisoning, and at least 11 students have suffered from diarrhea

Taipei City’s elementary and middle schools provide free nutritious lunches in the new semester, with a selected meal once a week. (File photo)

Nutritious lunches are free for elementary and middle schools in Taipei City in the new semester, and the dishes and food waste disposal have triggered discussions. Taipei City Councilor Lin Liangjun received complaints from the public that the nutritious lunch of a certain high school in Central China on the 7th was suspected to be sour and smelly meat. This morning (8) parents reported that students had diarrhea, vomiting and diarrhea, and at least 11 students were affected. Datong District Health Service Center has conducted epidemic investigation.

Public complaints pointed out that the nutritious lunch in the middle school on the 7th was suspected to be sour and smelly meat, causing diarrhea among 11 students in two classes of Grade 9. Parents pointed out that the reason was that on the 7th, someone in the parent group asked if any children had diarrhea. Then one after another, parents reported that their children had a sour smell and had diarrhea at least twice. In other classes, they had vomiting and diarrhea. The number of affected students is still being counted. Another parent also reported that the nutritious lunch for grade 9 was very bad, even if it was unpalatable. The meat tasted weird yesterday. His son and other students in the class had diarrhea. I heard that the same happened in other classes.

Lin Liangjun said that he had asked the Education Bureau to find out whether it was food poisoning or not, but had to wait for the Health Bureau to determine whether it was food poisoning. After a preliminary understanding of the situation, the school found that there were more responses from 9th grade students, so they will be investigated first. If there are no responses from 7th and 8th grade students, they will be dealt with in the second level. The school has cleaned the kitchen of the hot food department today and will not provide meals for the time being. Nutritious lunches in the middle school will be provided through external meal delivery. The cooperative also sells meals.