The 22 students in Talisay City, Negros Occidental who fell ill had eaten expired chocolate.

Alias “Roming," a resident, said he asked from his employer boxes of chocolates and took them home.

He said he knew that the chocolates were already expired, so he kept these in a cabinet for his wife who works in a farm. 

Roming apologized for the food poisoning of 22 pupils of Bubog Elementary School in Talisay City on March 26, 2025. 

“Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa kanila. Para sana iyon sa amin. Nagtaka lang ako nang dumating ako sa amin, nagreklamo na ang mga tao na ang mga bata, na-poison na,” Roming said.

According to Roming’s wife, alias “Kay-kay,” the expired chocolates were supposedly for worms grown in a farm. However, a relative of Roming sold the chocolates at school. 

“Pinapakain iyan sa larva. Nagluluto ako para sa mga larva na pinapakain sa mga baboy. Hindi naman iyan ipinagbibili, nagulat nga ako. Ibinenta ng kanyang pamangkin sa eskwelahan,” Kay-kay said.

"Nakakain sila ng tsokolate [na] expired,” Dr. Joy Gladys Guanzon, officer in charge of Talisay City Health Office, said.

Barangay officials confiscated what remains of the expired chocolates.

Samples were submitted for laboratory test. As of this writing, results are yet to be released.

Guanzon has reminded consumers to always check the expiry date of products.

“Tingnan talaga natin ang mga expiry. Lalo na ang kinakain ng kabataan,” Guanzon added.