CHO still checking source of flavored shake poison

THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) is still checking on where the contamination happened such that a flavored shake bought by children last Friday at Don Francisco S. Dizon Elementary School landed 16 students and an adult to the hospital.

CHO Environment Sanitation Division chief Robert L. Oconer said yesterday that the 16 students that were affected by the food poisoning have already been discharged from the hospitals.

“Second round of investigation today: dalawa yung target, yung distributor ng powdered shake at yung nagtitinda po,” Oconer said

He also said that the cause of the food poisoning is still inconclusive because they are still waiting for the laboratory results.

“Icu-culture pa po siya, ang sabi ng Department of Health pinakamabilis po is one week,” Oconer said.

He also added that if the shake flavoring is not expired the other culprit could be the ice used.

He also said that in the initial investigation, the distributor of the shake powder denied selling the product but the vendor has a receipt for his purchase.

“Yung distributor nagsinunggaling na po siya sa atin e, ang sabi po niya hindi po siya nagbebenta ng ganung ano bubble gum flavor, pero nagpakita po sa atin ng bumili ano

ayan po ang resibo hindi pa siya OR parang onefourth paper lang. June 16 pa, so meaning bago lang niya nabili pero sabi po ng distributor sa atin ‘wala na ko nagatinda ato nga flavoring’ pero ayan po pinakita sa atin ang resibo dun niya binili talaga ito,” Oconer said.

The quickest penalty, he said, will be revocation of permit and outright closure if the establishment if found to have sold the powder and if the powder is pinpointed as the cause of the poisoning.

But the City Legal Office may add more penalties, Oconer said.

He said that it is unfortunate this happened as CHO is set to hold its annual Oplan Balik Eskwela where they will check canteen food providers and vendors outside school premises to ensure that children are getting safe food.

“Naunahan kami ng ganitong insidente which is very unfortunate. Dahil sa ganitong nangyari mas lalo naming hihigpitan ang vendors,” Oconer said. “Mga bata mahilig sa shakes ito po binabantayan natin ngayon.”

Oconer said that aside from the Oplan Balik Ekwela that would be done from Monday to Wednesday this week, they will also resume the Oplan Ice Plant to check the sanitary conditions of ice plants in the city. KCV