Angeles City resto shut down over ‘food poisoning‘

By Ding Cervantes

ANGELES CITY – A restaurant at a mall here has been ordered closed by the city government after 24 of its customers were hospitalized due to alleged food poisoning.

City health officer Lenario Santos said relatives of two of the victims filed a complaint before his office Aug 7.

Upon investigation, Santos and officers from the regional epidiomology surveillance unit of the Department of Health found out that seven customers were rushed to the Angeles University Foundation Medical Center (AUFMC), while 15 others were taken to different hospitals.

The victims reportedly dined at the restaurant on separate occasions since Aug. 1.

Apart from the seven at the AUFMC, three others remained confined as of yesterday at the Angeles Medical Center, one in OspitalNing Angeles, one in Sacred Heart Hospital, one in St. Raphael in Mabalacat City, five in Macabali Hospital in San Fernando City, one in Porac town and three in Malolos City in Bulacan.

Authorities withheld the names of the restaurant and the mall until after the investigation is completed.

Initial tests conducted by the city health office on the water samples taken from the restaurant showed it was contaminated with amoeba.

Santos said he has yet to receive result of a more exhaustive study done by the DOH regional office.

The city health office ordered the employees of the restaurant to undergo physical checkup.

Councilor Edu Pamintuan gave administrators of the restaurant two days to explain the incident and show cause why the establishment should not be shut down permanently.