• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Twenty-one learners of an elementary school in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, were rushed to a medical facility on Wednesday after exhibiting signs and symptoms of food poisoning.
Fifteen of the victims are Grade 5 students, four are Grade 4 students, while two others are Grade 3 students, all of Bubog Elementary School in Talisay City, who suffered acute abdominal pains, nausea and vomiting, after eating expired imported chocolate bars, according to Dr. Joey Villarosa, Medical officer of the Negros Occidental Provincial Schools Division.
Villarosa said they have yet to establish if the suspect chocolate bars brought by a learner to the school and distributed, or were sold to other students.
It was found out by the Department of Education that the chocolate bars, with Arabic markings, had an expiration date of Sept. 17, 2024.
Villarosa dismissed the food poisoning as an isolated incident, which he said is first to happen in his 15 years of service to the Department of Education in Negros Occidental.
Based on policy of the Department of Education, he said that outside food is prohibited from being sold inside school premises, aside from those at the school canteen.
In the same issued DepEd memorandum order, carbonated and high sugar content drinks are also prohibited from being sold in the school canteen, and that sealed food should have the Sangkap Pinoy seal.
Ian Arnold Arnaez, spokesperson of Negros Occidental Provincial Schools Division, said the 21 students were later released with prescriptions from the City Health Office.*
