Two men died of suspected food poisoning after eating at a Malaysian vegetarian restaurant in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.
On March 27, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan'an ordered all locations of the Poram Kopitiam restaurant chain to close pending an investigation into the death and hospitalization of a customer who ate at one of the city's restaurants, local media reported.
According to the Taipei City Health Department, eight people who ate at a Far East Department Store restaurant in Xinyi District on March 19, 21, and 22 subsequently developed symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea and sought medical attention.
Of these, a 39-year-old man who had eaten at a restaurant on March 22nd died two days later, and a 66-year-old man who had eaten at a restaurant on March 19th died on March 27th.
At least one other person is reported to be in intensive care.
They are believed to have eaten char kway teow (stir-fried noodle dish) among other dishes at restaurants.
According to local media, Taipei city health authorities received a report on March 24 of possible food poisoning after one of the customers fell ill and was treated at a hospital.
Food samples were then taken from the restaurant for testing and operational improvements were ordered.
On March 26, the Taipei city government ordered the restaurant's Xinyi district branch to close, and later extended the order to the chain's other locations in the city.
According to Poram Kopitiam's website, the lease for the Xinyi store ends on March 31, but preparations are underway to open a new branch in Taipei District. The restaurant chain also has locations in the city at Raohe Night Market and Taipei Main Station.
Chiang said Taipei health authorities conducted food sample tests at the restaurant and found no bacteria commonly associated with food poisoning.
Meanwhile, Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) Director-General Wu Xiangmei said that on March 26, Taipei City and TFDA officials took samples of foods that are typically at high risk of contamination, such as cabbage, rice noodles, and soy sauce. Stated. , results he expects to be available within two weeks.
The restaurant passed a food safety inspection in 2022, but Taipei health inspectors who visited the restaurant after the suspected poisoning found cockroach droppings on the premises and a knife kept on the counter next to the sink. They found several problems, including that employees' health records had not been submitted. Local media reported Mr. Wu's remarks.
According to local media, the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office also announced on March 27 that it, along with police and health authorities, had seized surveillance footage and collected evidence from the restaurant's premises and appointed a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation.