Candy curl toxicity probed
A THOROUGH investigation will be done by Buguias officials following the food poisoning of 40 students on June 27.
Mayor Ruben Tinda-an said the candies were turned over to the Municipal Health Office for technological examination at the Bureau of Foods and Drugs in Baguio City.
‘We have already turned over the candies to the health authorities to determine the toxicity,” said Tinda-an.
A Korean missionary couple, Lee In Suk, 52, and Tiehua Woom, 55, who live in Buguias, distributed “Strawberry curls” last week to elementary and high school students and were later hospitalized.
The Korean couple admitted they bought the candies in a local
store and were not detained after the incident but promised to cooperate with authorities during the course of the investigation.
After consuming the candies, students then experienced episodes of stomach ache and vomiting with 13 admitted at the Benguet General Hospital due to pneumonia and acute gastritis.
In the joint affidavit of the Korean couple, they are missionaries in the country since 2013, and it is their tradition to visit schools and provide candies.
Department of Health-Cordillera Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit Nurse Geeny Anne Austria said the investigation of the alleged food poisoning incident continues.
“On-going pa kasi ang investigation on the food poisoning incident so may mga tao pa tayo sa field doing some field works, actually partnership tayo with the local government and Benguet Provincial Health Office,” said Austria.
Austria added they have submitted the samples to the Department of Science and Technology and waiting for the results.
In light of the food poisoning incident, Austria said they are now looking into the possible factors before they release their official recommendation.
“Our advocacy is that LGU should have an ordinance to have control in the food entering their area for the health of our constituents,” said Austria.