8-4-2024 (TAIPEI) A dangerous toxin believed to be responsible for a deadly food poisoning incident at a restaurant in Taipei has been discovered in the stool of the eatery’s chef.
According to a report by Focus Taiwan, out of the 34 individuals who fell ill after dining at the Polam Kopitiam branch in the Xinyi District between March 18 and 24, two have tragically passed away, seven remain hospitalized, and 25 are recovering at home as of April 6. Four of the hospitalized individuals are in critical condition.
Deputy Health Minister Victor Wang revealed in a Facebook post on April 6 that bongkrekic acid, the toxin in question, was detected in fecal samples collected from the chef of the Xinyi outlet on March 27. Previous samples taken from the chef’s hands on March 24 also tested positive for the highly lethal toxin, which can be fatal even in minute doses as small as 1mg.
Local media reports indicate that the same toxin was found in the majority of the affected diners.
In his Facebook post, Mr. Wang noted that the chef’s health condition is currently normal. The chef underwent blood and urine tests for the toxin on April 5, but the results came back negative, suggesting that he may not have consumed the contaminated food but rather ingested a trace amount of the acid, which was then metabolized by his body.
Mr. Wang further explained that the chef’s hands could have been contaminated when handling tainted ingredients, and as a result, the toxin may have ended up in the stool sample submitted for testing.
To shed light on the incident, Mr. Wang emphasized the importance of searching for Burkholderia gladioli, a bacterium known to produce bongkrekic acid. The health ministry inspectors gathered 27 additional samples from two other locations the chef visited on April 4 to test for the presence of the bacterium.
Currently, contaminated flat rice noodles in the dish known as char kway teow, a popular Malaysian favorite, are believed to be the primary source of the outbreak.
The two fatalities identified thus far include a 39-year-old man who dined at the restaurant on March 22 and passed away two days later, as well as a 66-year-old man who ate there on March 19 and died on March 27.
While investigations are ongoing, all Polam Kopitiam branches have been ordered to close. However, Mr. Wang’s Facebook post reiterated that the outbreak was confined to the Xinyi branch.
Local media reports also indicate that a special prosecutor has been appointed to oversee the investigation. In addition, health inspectors from Taipei found cockroach droppings, improper knife storage next to the sink, and a failure to provide employee health records during their visit to the eatery after the outbreak, despite the restaurant passing a food safety inspection in 2022.
