Puto downs 3 children in Lucena City

Published July 23, 2015 11:48am

At least three children were hospitalized in Lucena City late Wednesday, supposedly after eating puto (steamed rice cake), Quezon police said.

The children's father, a medical representative, reported the incident on Wednesday night, GMA News correspondent Peewee Bacuño reported Thursday.

The children were aged 9, 4, and 1.

Police quoted the children's father as saying he brought home the "leche puto" Wednesday afternoon.

A few minutes after eating the puto, the three children complained of stomach pain and were brought to the hospital.

Police quoted the father as saying the box of puto did not have any label indicating an expiry date. They are now investigating the incident.

Earlier this month, some 2,000 people in Caraga were hospitalized after eating durian and mangosteen candies. The durian candies tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus.

Some 57 students in Sultan Kudarat were hospitalized last week after eating okoy from a school canteen.

In Metro Manila, 10 students were hospitalized after eating macapuno candy.

This week, six students in Iloilo were hospitalized after eating a sweet treat sold by a schoolmate.

Department of Health spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy on Tuesday said ensuring that what one eats is safe is the responsibility not only of the government and producers, but also of the public.

"The individual's responsibility is, una, gamitin mo ang senses mo. Smell the product. Tingnan mo baka may amag na. Pangalawa, check on the product. Although, 'di lahat ng labels may expiration date. Why would you insist on taking products na expired na? Kasi nakamura ka?" he added.

Lee Suy warned that "food poisoning can cause death... Pwedeng magkaroon ng malaking problema kung hindi natin susundin ito." —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News

Tags: foodpoisoning, puto, putopoisoning, lucenacity