Toxic substances may have led to food poisoning involving 120 pupils

Preliminary investigations have revealed that toxic substances may have caused food poisoning among 120 students of the Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanah Liat in Bukit Mertajam near here, Wednesday.

Nevertheless, none of the students have been warded at the hospital.

State agriculture and agro-based industry, rural development and health committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said the state health department was currently conducting tests on food samples.

"The state government is concerned about this (food poisoning) and is disappointed because in its efforts to make the state 'Clean, Green, Safe and Healthy', there are a few who do not care about hygiene and food safety," he said in a statement here today.

On Thursday, media reported that 120 pupils at the school suffered what appeared to be food poisoning after eating rice with chicken cooked in ketchup at the school canteen during recess on Wednesday.