4 Dead After Dining At M'sian Kopitiam Chain In Taiwan Due To Bongkrek Acid Poisoning
The most recent victim had eaten kuey teow at the restaurant chain in mid-March.
By Aqasha Nur’aiman — 02 May 2024, 10:54 AM
A food poisoning outbreak linked to Malaysian restaurant Polam Kopitiam in Taiwan has tragically led to the deaths of four individuals
According to the Taipei Times, Taiwanese Deputy Health Minister Victor Wang confirmed that the latest victim, a 40-year-old woman, died on Monday from multiple organ failure.
This follows another fatality announced on Saturday, 27 April, also due to multiple organ failure.
The most recent victim, according to the New Straits Times, had eaten kuey teow at the Xinyi branch of the restaurant chain in Taipei in mid-March. After returning home, she experienced symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
The woman had been in intensive care for over a month before her condition deteriorated, leading her family to discontinue emergency treatment
Apart from the 40-year-old woman, 34 other people fell ill after dining at the restaurant between 18 and 24 March, with three requiring intensive care.
The outbreak is suspected to have been caused by bongkrek acid contamination in the food served.
Currently, one of the two patients still in intensive care has undergone liver transplant surgery, while the other is still receiving treatment in the unit.
On March 27, Polam Kopitiam in Taipei put up a sign announcing that the restaurant had been closed for disinfection.
Image via Tien Yu-hua/Taipei TimesOn Friday, 29 March, the owner of Polam Kopitiam publicly apologised for the food poisoning outbreak at his restaurant
According to Focus Taiwan, while he did not speak to the press after being questioned by prosecutors, he expressed regret by bowing twice in front of several Taiwanese media outlets.
His lawyer said the owner has fully cooperated with the investigation and has been barred from leaving the country.
In July, a Malaysian woman posted a TikTok video about how her family accidentally consumed poisonous wild mushrooms:
