More than 100 people were food poisoned last Saturday when they had lunches at a local restaurant in Xiangtan city, central China's Hunan Province, but no death was  reported in the accident.

Three families hosted dinner parties at the restaurant at noon on May Day, two of the family banquets had feasts for wedding ceremonies and the another to honor someone's birthday.

Those who fell sick right after the dinner had been hospitalized.

Local authorities said they were looking into the cause of the food poisoning. Initial survey and analysis indicated that these victims may have been infected with some sort of viruses.

It has been a practice for Chinese families to take May Day holiday as one of the most ideal periods for holding family parties or going out for travels both in China and overseas. Meanwhile, a growing number of people are likely to eat out at eateries or restaurants with their friends or close relatives.

(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2004)