117 Batangas workers down from food poisoning

LIPA CITY — At least 117 employees of an auto-parts manufacturing company here were hospitalized after allegedly eating contaminated food from the company’s canteen last Friday, health officials said.

Dr. Leonardo Recero, Lipa City Health Officer, told The STAR that the victims were employees of Jideco Manufacturing Company located at the Lima Technology Industrial Park in Barangay San Lucas.

"We’re definite that it’s food poisoning but were still investigating on what food or drinks they have taken before turning ill," Recero said, adding that they are looking at sago and gulaman and milk shake as the possible culprits.

The employees, Recero said, also had a company outing last Friday and the food they brought to the picnic might have been the cause of the illness.

Dra. Perla Olave, hospital director of Lipa Medix Medical Center, said that at least 57 patients were rushed to their hospital since Friday.

"Most of the patients that were rushed here are suffering from abdominal pain, vomiting and loose bowel movement," Olave said in an interview. "We have to admit them for rehydration."

Some patients at the Lipa Medix were placed only at the emergency room because the hospital could no longer accommodate them in regular rooms.

Other victims were rushed to other hospitals — N.L. Villa Hospital-45; Mercado Hospital in Tanauan-10; St. Patrick Hospital in Batangas City-3 and Mary Mediatrix Hospital-2 .

A team of investigators from Lipa City Hall were sent to the canteen and ordered it closed pending the results of the investigation.

Jideco’s canteen concessionaire was identified as Jellie Sy. But the management refused to be interviewed by The STAR.

"We ordered them to clean their surroundings and advised them to put an air curtain to their kitchen to prevent flies of coming in," Recero added. "Other than that, we haven’t pin pointed yet the cause of the illness."

Patients being rushed to different hospitals continue to increase as of presstime yesterday.