As many as 14 students of an aided school at Vengoor near Perumbavoor were hospitalised on Thursday with signs of food poisoning after they consumed a particular brand of toffee sold at a few shops near the school.
The students of Mar Kauma Higher Secondary School were rushed to the nearby community health centre after they started vomiting and complained of stomach pain while attending classes around 12 noon. They were discharged after their condition improved.
“The problem was attributed to a particular brand of toffee they had consumed. It had the flavour and smell of the banned tobacco product Hans, and the students who consumed it also showed signs of intoxication.
“Those hospitalised were students of Standards 5 and 6, while those of higher classes who consumed the same toffee were found unaffected,” said Biju Peter, PTA president.
Inspection of shops
Food safety and health wing officials inspected the shops that sold the toffee, and they were shut down.
Another shop in the vicinity was also asked to shut down after it was found selling products past the expiry date. The inspection of shops is expected to continue on Friday.
