32 persons downed by bad pasta

Some 32 persons, 18 of them children below 12 years old, were downed by contaminated spaghetti served during a private birthday party in Caloocan City Tuesday night.

Chief Inspector Nestor Dioso, Sub-station 2 commander, said the victims included the birthday celebrant, two-year-old John Russel Alejandro, and his mother, Rona Pador Alejandro, 35, residing at 281 Interior 3, M. H. del Pilar Street between 4th and 5th Avenues, East Grace Park, Caloocan City.

Initial investigation revealed that the victims began showing symptoms of food poisoning two hours after eating spaghetti at the party.

Reports said that at around 10:30 p.m. the victims began to feel severe stomach pains, later felt dizzy and started vomitting. They claimed they all ate spaghetti, which they suspected to be already spoiled when served.

Pediatrician Dr. Ma. Rosario Franco of the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center (JRMMC) diagnosed the patients as victims of food poisoning.

The doctor said it could be spoiled meat or sauce in the pasta or the pasta itself that caused the partygoers to be ill. – Jerry Botial