SHAH ALAM – The external caterer who supplied tainted food to a school in Gombak, that led to the deaths of a teen and a toddler will be called up for investigations, according to Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan.
The Health Ministry is also probing the matter, and will need to question the caterer, he added.
“The caterer will be called by the police for further investigation. It is understood that the Health Ministry is also reaching out to the caterer for its investigation,” he told the press at the Selangor police headquarters today.
Besides the caterer, the programme organiser and teachers from the school also will be questioned, he said.
No other deaths besides that of the 17-year-old and toddler were reported in connection with the food poisoning episode at the school that began last Friday, he added.
Selangor police earlier today confirmed the two deaths after both deceased ate food brought home from the same event at the school by their parents on Friday. They died yesterday after experiencing symptoms.
The Selangor health department today said the same food – fried bihun and fried eggs supplied to the school by an external caterer – was responsible for the two deaths, and had also caused 82 others to fall ill.
The food was for an Islamic charity skills programme for 30 schools in the Gombak district.
A total of 247 people had been exposed to the tainted food, and those who fell ill had diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and nausea, according to the health department.
All those affected by food poisoning were aged 58 years and below, with the youngest being one year and seven-months old, who was the toddler who died.
While police have not named the school involved, Harian Metro has reported that it was a religious school in Sg Cincin. – June 11, 2024