Key Update

Twenty-eight people, including 22 children aged between eight and 15, fell ill after consuming ice cream sold at a church festival in Edayar under the Kadungalloor grama panchayat in Ernakulam. The incident raised concerns of suspected food poisoning.

Symptoms Emerge After Festival

People began reporting to the family health centres at Edayar and Binanipuram on Monday (January 12) with complaints of vomiting and diarrhoea. The affected individuals had attended the Fathima Matha Church festival held on Sunday (January 11), where they consumed ice cream from temporary stalls. Health officials said two stalls operated at the festival. People who ate ice cream from one specific stall developed uneasiness followed by persistent vomiting and diarrhoea. In contrast, those who consumed from the other stall reported no health issues.

Authorities Probe Hygiene and Storage Practices

Officials linked the illnesses to ice cream sold by a local brand with an office in Kakkanad. Health authorities asked the brand’s owner to appear before them for questioning. Officials suspect that poor hygiene during preparation or failure to maintain proper freezer temperatures may have contributed to the contamination. “Some consumers noticed a change in taste while eating the ice cream at the church premises and took the remaining portions home. They preserved these samples safely and will hand them over to the food safety wing for testing,” a health officer said.

Samples Sent for Testing

Food safety officials collected ice cream samples and sent them to the food safety laboratory at Kakkanad for analysis. Officials confirmed that all affected persons are in stable condition and that none of them is critically ill. Health authorities urged residents and local body members to promptly report any food-related health issues, especially during festivals and public events where temporary food stalls are in operation.

Source: The Times of India 

The Hindu