LANZHOU - Food poisoning is the suspected cause of two deaths and dozens of sick in Northwest China's Gansu province, said local authorities Wednesday.

According to the government of Longxi county, 30 people had been sent to hospitals by 10 am Wednesday, of which six were in critical condition.

Two died early Wednesday morning after medical treatment failed.

All of patients were found to have had a kind of local snack made of bean jelly and roast chicken at a store.

Police have detained the stall owner and collected the remaining food for testing.

The Gansu Provincial Health Department has sent a team of experts to the county to look into the case.