KUALA LUMPUR – The death toll from an outbreak of food poisoning at a branch of Malaysian eatery, Polam Kopitiam, in Taipei has now risen to four.
The two latest fatalities occurred in the last three days; one on April 27 and another today, the Taipei Times reported.
The latest deaths were confirmed by Taiwan’s deputy health and welfare minister, Victor Wang.
The death today was of a 40-year-old woman who experienced organ failure early this morning.
Last month, two men aged 39 and 66 died of suspected food poisoning after eating at the restaurant.
Subsequent testing of food samples and samples collected from the chef found a toxin called bongkrekic acid from the chef’s faeces present in most of the patients who suffered food poisoning.
Currently, two of the 35 people who reported ill after eating at the affected outlet, remain hospitalised.
Wang previously said the chef might not have directly eaten the food contaminated with the toxin but ingested a trace amount of it, which might have already been metabolised in his body.
Want also said the toxin could have originated from contamination on the chef’s hands, likely acquired through contact with contaminated food during the cooking process.
Taipei authorities said the food poisoning outbreak was confined to the Xinyi branch and occurred between March 19 and 24, with flat rice noodles remaining the primary suspect for contamination with the toxin. – April 29, 2024