97 fall ill with lumpia food poisoning
DEPED – The Department of Education would look into a possible case of food poisoning due to lumpia at a public school in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
Lumpia are Filipino fried spring rolls filled with ground pork and mixed vegetables.
They are made of thin paper-like or crepe-like pastry skin called “lumpia wrapper” enveloping savory or sweet fillings.
Lumpia is often served as an appetizer or snack and might be served deep-fried or fresh (unfried).
In the Philippines, lumpia is one of the most common dishes served at gatherings and celebrations.
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But on Monday, 97 people, mostly San Francisco Elementary School students and teachers, were rushed to the hospital after eating lumpia from a food vendor.
This prompted the Department of Education to conduct an investigation over a suspected case of food poisoning.
“Maglulunsad din po tayo ng investigation sa nangyari na iyan,” DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa said in a press conference.
Poa explained that a 2007 department order prohibits vendors from bringing food inside the school canteen or premises.
DepEd’s district nurses responded immediately to the incident, according to Poa, who also thanked the local government for covering the hospital expenses of those who became ill.
As of Tuesday morning, 31 of the 97 people who became ill were still in the hospital.
The students and teachers who ate the lumpia will be interviewed by health officials.
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