Consumers warned not to buy expired food products

Health facilities in the Free State have managed the influx of patients that have been seen flowing to hospitals as a result of suspected cases of ingestion of food poison since Wednesday, 6 November.

The Department’s spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi said the Free State Provincial Government is concerned about the spread of these incidents which somehow reflect an orchestrated plan at play. Furthermore, the Department encouraged the public to be circumspect about places and environments where they buy their food and the conditions under which their food is packaged, prepared and distributed.

On Friday there were 45 learners of Daluvuyo Primary School in Welkom that were treated and discharged. The only learner remaining was a 10 year old male who is now treated for other ailments that were seemingly aggravated by the ingestion of poisoned snack.  The patient is still under treatment and observation at Bongani Regional Hospital in Welkom,  Mvambi said.

On Thursday about 47 learners of Ihobe Primary School were treated and discharged at Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital in Bloemfontein. Of the 47 children, only 2 were still undergoing treatment on Friday.

A  learner from Toka Primary School in Bloemfontein was treated and discharged on the same day.

In another incident, about 15 learners from Mooifontein School in Zastron were also treated for a suspected food poisoning case. Only 1 female learner, aged 16, was admitted at Embekweni District Hospital in Zastron.

On Friday the health services swiftly responded to two separate incidents of suspected food poisoning Mvambi said.

In one incident, 13 learners with suspected food poisoning  were seen at Rearabetswe Clinic in Meloding, Virginia, while 6 learners were seen at Mamahabane Clinic in Ventersburg.