Society
Expired yogurt poisons 31 pupils in north China
(CRIENGLISH.com)
Updated: 2010-04-13 15:30
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A total of 31 students showed symptoms of food poisoning after having yoghurt distributed by a primary school in Xingtai city of north China's Hebei province, the local government told reporters from Hebei Youth Daily on Monday.
A student remains in hospital on April 12, 2010 after having the expired yoghurt handed out by the primary school in Xingtai city of north China's Hebei Province. [Photo from CRIENGLISH.com/Hebei Youth Daily]
An initial investigation revealed that the yoghurt, purchased from a supermarket near the school, was past its sell-by date. It has since been recalled by local health authorities for further checkup.
Without revealing the brand name, the report said that the production date printed on the yoghurt's external packaging is March 31 of this year, yet the individual bags of yoghurt inside show different figures. Some are labelled December 5 of last year, while others are printed with October 27. The product expires after three months.
Two of the sick children have not yet been released from hospital.
Dandan, a grade-six girl at Houxinzhuang central primary school, said every boarder got one bag of yoghurt on Friday morning. "Later I felt intense pain in the stomach and head. I felt sick but could not vomit." She went to the teacher for help and discovered that many of her classmates had developed similar symptoms.
Sun Jianzhong, a local education official, said the school bought four boxes of yoghurt a day earlier. Before handing out the drinks, several staff members drank them and found no problem. In spite of this, Sun said the school was not careful enough.
It is reported that the schoolmaster has been handed a demerit and the deputy schoolmaster who was in charge of logistics has been removed from his post.
Further investigation is under way.
