In March this year, a number of people died after eating at a vegetarian restaurant called "Baolin Tea Room" in Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan Province.
On April 29, the relevant authorities of Taiwan Province recently confirmed that one more death was reported in the food poisoning incident at the restaurant, which has so far caused four deaths.
Four people have died as a result of the incident
Two people are still hospitalized
The relevant authorities of Taiwan Province confirmed on April 29 that one more death was reported in the food poisoning incident at the "Baolin Tea Room" in Taipei City in March this year, which has so far caused four deaths, and two people are still hospitalized.
According to reports, the new death case in mid-March this year after returning home from a meal appeared nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and other symptoms, the condition improved during the rescue process, and then deteriorated due to severe infection, and died of multiple organ failure in the early morning of April 29.
It was detected in the body of the deceased
Toxic substance "rice fermented acid" ingredient
On the evening of March 28, the relevant authorities of Taiwan Province held a press conference to introduce the progress of the investigation of the suspected food poisoning incident in the "Baolin Tea Room" in Taipei City, saying that after the autopsy analysis of the first death case, it was confirmed that the toxic substance "rice fermented acid" was detected. Why there is "rice fermented acid" in the deceased's body still needs to be further investigated by the relevant departments.
As of March 28, 18 cases of suspected food poisoning have been reported. After an investigation, the relevant departments of Taipei City said that from March 17 to 25, there were a total of 91 consumption records in the "Baolin Tea Room".
All of the cases had dined at a "Baolin Tea Room" in Xinyi District from March 19 to 22, and consumed foods made with the same ingredients, such as kuay teow and rice noodles, and all of them developed symptoms within a short period of time after eating, and the severe cases all developed acute liver failure and other organ failure caused by it.
The photo shows the temporarily closed "Baolin Tea Room" taken on March 27.
Source: China News Service
"Rice fermented acid" is colorless and odorless
1 mg can be fatal
According to reports, "rice fermented acid" is produced by fermented grains, coconuts and edible fungi after being contaminated, with strong toxicity, colorless and tasteless, and stable at high temperatures, mainly affecting the liver, brain, kidneys and other important organs, only 1 mg can be fatal.
"Rice fermented acid" is also the main cause of food poisoning caused by fermented cornmeal products, spoiled fresh white fungus and other spoiled starch products.
As a "frequent customer" on the people's table, starchy foods such as cold skin, rice rolls, and potato flour kuay teow may be polluted when the environment is unhygienic, the raw materials are deteriorated, the storage environment is improper, the soaking is too long, and the storage environment is humid.
Rice fermented acid has strong heat resistance, 100 °C boiling and high-pressure cooking (120 °C) can not be destroyed, it will cause poisoning after eating, and the onset of poisoning is urgent, the disease develops rapidly, once the food contaminated with rice fermented acid, the incubation period is generally 30 minutes to 12 hours, a few for one or two days.
- The first manifestations are nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness and weakness.
- In severe cases, headache, muscle cramps, jaundice, hepatomegaly, subcutaneous hemorrhage, hematemesis, hematuria, oliguria, unconsciousness, irritability, shock and even death may occur.
- At present, there is no specific antidote, and the case fatality rate of rice fermented acidosis is more than 50%.
As early as 2018, a 7-year-old girl in Zhejiang was poisoned by eating black fungus that had been soaked for 2 days and 2 nights, resulting in multiple organ failure throughout the body.
In fact, dried fungus itself is not poisonous, but the fungus may produce a bacterium called "Pseudomonas coconut" during the soaking process, which produces rice fermented acid toxin.
In July 2023, Xiaolan (pseudonym) and her aunt in Yongcheng, Henan Province were poisoned after eating cold skin, and her aunt unfortunately passed away.
How to prevent "rice fermented acid" poisoning?
Experts advise that when consuming fermented foods, it is necessary to pay attention to hygiene and avoid cross-contamination. When making fermented foods, it is important to pay attention to hygiene and temperature control to avoid the growth of bacteria.
Once you suspect that you or your family members have "rice fermented acid" poisoning, you can use chopsticks or fingers to stimulate your throat to induce vomiting as soon as possible, and vomit out the food you just eat. "If there is a suspicion of ingestion of "rice fermented acid", experts recommend inducing vomiting as soon as possible and keeping the remaining food for medical examination.
After the diagnosis is confirmed, hemodialysis treatment can be performed on the patient in combination with clinical symptoms, and symptomatic treatment can be given according to the severity of the disease.
Statement | This article is transferred from Guangzhou Daily, CCTV News Client, Xiamen Daily, Orange Persimmon Interactive, News Square, China News Service, thank you!