Elderly Participants Who Received 'Lunch Boxes' at the Festival Report Food Poisoning Symptoms

Elderly participants at a festival held in Hongseong have reported food poisoning symptoms, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.

As of now, the suspected cause is the 'lunch boxes' provided during lunch on the day of the event.

On the 17th, Hongseong County announced that elderly individuals who consumed rice cakes and lunch boxes at the 'Senior Health Festival' event held the previous day are showing suspected food poisoning symptoms.

Currently, over 120 participants have exhibited symptoms, with 3 individuals experiencing severe symptoms and receiving hospitalization.

It is reported that a total of 822 participants attended the festival held at Hongju General Sports Complex.

The lunch boxes provided that day reportedly included menu items such as brown rice, stir-fried pork, rolled omelette, stir-fried anchovies, and aonguk soup.

Chungnam Province and the Hongseong Health Center are collecting knives, cutting boards, and cloths used by the lunch box vendor, while also securing environmental samples and human samples, which have been sent for testing to the provincial health and environment research institute.

Image source: Photo provided by Hongseong County, reference photo for understanding the article / gettyimagesbank