43 Students Hospitalised After Suspected Mid-Day Meal Food Poisoning in Coimbatore

Forty-three government school children studying in the same class in Coimbatore suddenly fell ill and were taken to the Coimbatore Government Hospital on Monday, as per the students. Preliminary information says the children came down with symptoms like nausea, vomiting and stomach pain right after having the food served to them at school.

Teachers and school authorities quickly alerted the local health officials, and the ailing students were taken to the government hospital for treatment.

The doctors working with the students revealed that most of them were very well and only under observation. At the same time, the medical personnel are making further tests to be sure that the students are not in any danger.

The authorities guess the students sickness has to do with the midday meal given under the government's school food program, but the real reason will be known only after a thorough investigation. The food samples from the school are taken and sent to the lab, according to the reports.

Officials from the education and health departments came to the school to look into the matter and check the food preparation and storage conditions. They assured that strict measures would be taken if any shortcomings in carrying out the meal programme are discovered.

The midday meal programme that is being run in all government schools is expected to offer nutritious meals to students and thereby improve their attendance and retention in education.

On the other hand, parents and local residents came to the hospital and school premises after the incident and asked for their safety to be assured in the meals given to the students.

District officials remarked that they have the situation under constant observation and that the affected children are being given the best medical care. More information will be released once the results of the food safety tests are available.