A food poisoning outbreak has tragically claimed the lives of four individuals who recently dined at a branch of the Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam in Taiwan, according to an article in the New Straits Times. The victims experienced severe symptoms of foodborne illness after consuming food from this establishment, leading to their deaths.
According to a Taiwanese Deputy Health Minister, the most recent fatality linked to this food poisoning incident was a 40-year-old woman who succumbed to multiple organ failure earlier this week. Just three days prior, another customer had also passed away due to similar complications.
The chain of events began when the latest victim dined at the Xinyi, Taipei branch of Polam Kopitiam in mid-March. Shortly after returning home, they began experiencing symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The situation escalated, and the woman was under intensive care for over a month. Despite emergency treatments, her condition deteriorated with multiple organ failure and infection, leading her family to make the difficult decision to discontinue further medical intervention.
Focus Taiwan reports that 35 individuals became ill after eating at the restaurant from March 18 to 24. Of the 35, three individuals required intensive care treatment with the most recent fatality among them. One of the two patients still in intensive care has received a liver transplant, while the other remains under treatment.
After being questioned by authorities in late March, the owner of the Polam Kopitiam restaurant chain apologized for the incident and for the two deaths at that time. He has also agreed to fully cooperate into the cause of the food poisoning.
The source of the outbreak is thought to be a deadly toxin called bongkrekic acid, which was found in stool samples from the restaurant’s chef. Samples taken from the chef’s hands three days earlier also reportedly tested positive for the toxin. Local media has reported that bongkrekic acid was detected in most of the sick diners.
“This tragic incident highlights the critical importance of food safety and rigorous hygiene practices in the food industry, whether at home or abroad,” said one national food safety attorney. “Authorities must investigate the cause of the outbreak thoroughly to prevent similar occurrences in the future.”
