Ate School Lunch... Over 50 Students Report Food Poisoning Symptoms at an Elementary School in Sacheon

Children who ate school meals at an elementary school in Sacheon, Gyeongnam, showed suspected symptoms of food poisoning, prompting health authorities to launch an epidemiological investigation.

According to Sacheon City on the 1st, a report was received that about 50 people showed symptoms of food poisoning at an elementary school in Sacheon on the 27th of last month.

They reportedly experienced symptoms of food poisoning such as vomiting and diarrhea after eating lunch the previous day.

Out of a total of 653 students and staff, 522 ate the meal that day, and among those showing symptoms of food poisoning, 15 were diagnosed with suspected norovirus infection at hospitals or other medical facilities.

Sacheon City Hall, Gyeongnam. [Photo by Sacheon City Hall]

The Sacheon City Health Center, which received the report, immediately began an epidemiological investigation.

Samples were collected from students and kitchen staff and sent to the Gyeongnam Institute of Health and Environment for analysis, and they are checking whether all who ate the lunch that day developed food poisoning.

A city official said, “It will take about a week for the results to come out,” adding, “If it is confirmed to be food poisoning, administrative sanctions will be imposed on the cafeteria by holding them responsible for managing food ingredients.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.