1 dead, 15 ill from eating ‘mami’

The chicken meat in the noodle turned pink instead of white, but the cook said there was no bad smell thus she continued serving the dish

One died and 15 fell ill from suspected food poisoning from eating mami (noodle soup) sold by their neighbor in Gagalangin, Tondo. One of the victims died, a Manila local government official confirmed.

“A total of 16 cases were admitted at the Tondo Medical Center. One has died, a 43-year-old female,” Dr. Jesse Bermejo, chief of the Manila Health Department epidemiology surveillance unit, said.

“Upon interview of patients, at around 10 a.m., 20 July, 2022, they ate chicken mami in a makeshift table along the sidewalk located at 392 Gapan Street, Earnshaw, Gagalangin, Tondo, Barangay 172,” he added.

A closed-circuit TV footage of the incident along Callejon Street showed a group of people milling over some victims, including two children who complained of stomach pains and nausea.

The two kids and 14 others were then rushed by their neighbors to the hospital after complaining of feeling unwell after consuming the noodle dish.

Among those attended to by doctors for food poisoning were the husband and wife who had been selling food in the neighborhood for 20 years already.

The chicken meat in the noodle was observed to have turned pinkish instead of white when cooked. However, there was no bad smell that emanated from the soup, the woman who cooked the noodle soup said.

Samples of water used in the dish were taken by health officials.

The Manila Police District is investigating to determine if there was criminal negligence in the food preparation leading to the suspected mass poisoning. Police probers said they are awaiting the results of the laboratory tests.