Taoyuan health authorities yesterday temporarily shuttered a boxed lunch shop after 61 patrons reported food poisoning symptoms, the third major food safety incident in as many weeks.
Local hospitals reported an influx of people with vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain starting on Monday evening, the Taoyuan Department of Public Health said in a news release.
The affected people all ate at a Jhongli District (中壢) venue of Shang Yeh Kao Jou Fan (上野烤肉飯, “Shang Yeh Roasted Meat on Rice”), a popular Taiwanese fast-food franchise, the department said.
Photo courtesy of the Taoyuan Department of Public Health
Department official Huang Shu-hui (黃淑惠) said that the city has launched a food safety inspection at the eatery, with test results expected in the next three to five weeks.
The probe is focused on identifying flaws in food preparation, sanitation, hygiene of employees and food storage conditions, she said.
Authorities are monitoring the health of affected residents, Huang said.
Should investigations prove that patrons became ill as a result of consuming the eatery’s food, officials would recommend that the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office file charges with the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (食品安全衛生管理法), she said.
The department would additionally impose a fine between NT$60,000 and NT$200 million (US$1,893.34 and US$6.3 million) on the chain if the probe reveals breaches of food sanitation codes, Huang added.
People who fell ill after eating at the shop on Monday should go to a hospital and tell doctors about the connection between their symptoms and the venue, in addition to calling 0937-466-695 to notify health officials, the department said.
Separately, the New Taipei City Department of Health the same day confirmed traces of salmonella in chicken and pork samples taken from two venues of the lunchbox chain Chin Liu Cuisine (清六食堂) in Sindian District (新店).
The department said 173 people reported symptoms indicative of food poisoning soon after eating food prepared by the Sindian District Office and Jhongsin Road branches of the franchise.
Eleven people were hospitalized, while the rest have been discharged.
New Taipei City consumer ombudsman Chung Chia-ju (鍾佳儒) said anyone who became sick after eating at the restaurants on April 4 or 5 could request compensation.
They must prepare receipts from the shop or a food delivery platform and medical documentation to be eligible for claims, he said, adding that they could demand recompense for lost income by providing office records.
People entitled for compensation should make their claims within two months by an official Line app group with the handle @772zbrxj, send an e-mail to jinni.huang@leadclaim.com.tw, or call Miss Huang (黃) at (02) 2752-5005, extension 62, he said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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