The number of pupils and teachers suffering food poisoning at a primary school in southern Chinese city of Guangzhou has risen to 237 with 10 pupils still in hospital, local health authorities said Saturday.

 

The 10 hospitalized were in a stable condition, a spokesman with the Guangzhou Municipal Health Bureau said.

 

The poisoning occurred on Wednesday when pupils and teachers from the Primary School attached to Zhongshan University in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province began to suffer fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea after taking mid-morning snacks.

 

Two teachers and 50 pupils aged between 6 and 12 were stricken on Wednesday and the number increased later.

 

Except the 10 pupils being treated in hospital, the rest have recovered, and no new cases were reported on Saturday, the spokesman said.

 

Investigation shows that the food poisoning was caused by bacteria-contaminated soya milk and red bean cakes that the sufferers consumed.

 

The food, supplied by Guangzhou Hongyi Food Co. Ltd., was found to have been contaminated with enterotoxin, a toxin produced by bacteria, which caused the vomiting and diarrhea.

 

The company has been ordered to stop production, according to the spokesman.

 

Local government held a special conference on Saturday, calling for strengthening food safety supervision on campus, he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2006)