'Chicken rendang could have caused food poisoning'

The preparation of the chicken rendang could have led to the food poisoning of 151 auxiliary police trainees at the Police Training Centre in Ayer Hitam, Jempol, Seremban Wednesday, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said there was a need to need to maintain a high standard of hygiene when storing, handling and preparing food to avoid food poisoning.

However, the ministry was investigating the matter, he told reporters after opening the new Kelab Bell Tamil Malaysia head office, here Thursday when asked on the incident.

Eighteen of the auxiliary police trainees were admitted to the Jempol Hospital and 133 others received outpatient treatment at the clinic of the centre.

Negeri Sembilan Health Department director Datuk Dr Zailan Adnan was reported to have said that all of them suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea apparently from the chicken rendang which they had consumed for dinner.

On another note, Subramaniam said severe action would be taken against those found marketing the six traditional products suspected to contain high levels of heavy metal from China and Hong Kong.

They included products manufactured by the Beijing Tong Ren Tang, under brand names Niu Huang Jie Du Pian and Jian Ti Wu Bu Ban, which reportedly contained high levels of arsenic and mercury respectively.

Two other products by the Chinese manufacturer are Niu Huang Chien Jin San and Siau Er Zhi Pau Wan, suspected to contain mercury sulphide.

Another two products - Bak Foong pills produced by the Hong Kong Medicine Manufactory and Hairegenerator by Hong Kong Hang Cheong Lung Pharmaceutical Limited - are said to contain high levels of plumbum and mercury respectively.