Milk-based snack downs 14 students

MANILA, Philippines - Fourteen fourth-grade students of Commonwealth Elementary School Annex in Quezon City fell ill Monday afternoon after eating a milk-based snack they bought from a teacher.

The students were brought to the East Avenue Medical Center when they complained of stomach pains and nausea after eating Zola milk powder in sachets, according to Arman Daviduya, an investigator of Barangay Commonwealth.

Daviduya said the pupils were brought to the village hall by their own teacher, Izsa Carillo, who reportedly sold them the snack.

However, Carillo reportedly bought the products from a nearby sari-sari store owned by a certain Nida Palentino, 56. Palentino said she bought the snacks from Divisoria. They were produced in Navotas City.

Daviduya said based on the markings on the sachets, the product’s expiration date is in 2011. He said they confiscated sachets of the product from the store and from the teacher.

Daviduya said representatives of the city government’s health department arrived Monday to take samples of the product for testing by the Food and Drug Administration. He said it is up to the students’ parents to file charges. – Reinir Padua