Koko Pimentel calls for probe on food poisoning incidents

Amid the still unsolved case of suspected milk tea poisoning in Manila, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III has asked the appropriate Senate committees to conduct an inquiry into the incidents of food poisoning in the country.

In Senate Resolution 1273 filed Wednesday, Pimentel said although the initial investigation of the Department of Health (DOH) yielded negative results as regards the presence of toxic substance in the milk tea sample, “the incident still raised alarm on the possible harmful contents or substances in food products used and the manner of food preparations in food outlets.”

Two people were killed while another one was hospitalized after drinking milk tea at a shop in Sampaloc, Manila.

Suzanne Dagohoy, who bought the milk tea, and William Abrigo, owner of ErgoCha, died hours after taking a sip of the milk tea. Arnold Aydalla, Dagohoy’s companion, on the other hand, was brought to the Philippine General Hospital for further examination.

Pimentel also said the local government unit, Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration should conduct inspections on all food outlets to prevent similar incident.

He said the agencies should check the contents of the food and the way these were prepared.

The senator cited other cases of food poisoning such as the incident in Tampakan, South Cotabato last June 20, 2014, when least 130 people fell ill after eating the food prepared by a caterer during a community meeting.

He added 11 South Korean nationals were brought to the hospital in Iloilo City in another case of food poisoning in October 2013 while 66 people who ordered products of Dakasi Milk Tea, also in Iloilo City, were also hospitalized on September 26, 2013

He further said 50 people in La Union were hospitalized in May 2012 after eating food that was served at a wedding reception while 200 people in Bulacan fell ill last June 2012 after eating at a birthday party.

Another incident of food poisoning in 2012 was when 21 youths who participated in the 1st Provincial Youth Summit were rushed to different hospitals in Butuan City after eating lunch served by a known food chain. -NB, GMA News