KUALA LUMPUR – Two men have died of suspected food poisoning after eating food including char kuey teow at a Malaysian eatery in Taipei.
The deceased are a 39-year-old who died two days after eating at the Polam Kopitiam in Xinyi, in Taiwan’s capital, on March 22, and a 66-year-old who died today after eating there on March 19, Straits Times reported.
They are believed to have eaten a variety of foods from the restaurant, including char kuey teow, one of Malaysia’s more popular fried noodle dishes.
A total of eight customers who dined at the same restaurant on March 19, 21 and 22 also took ill with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea, according to the Taipei Health Department.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an was reported as saying that all of Polam Kopitiam’s outlets have been closed as part of ongoing investigations.
Dimsum Daily, meanwhile, said investigators found the restaurant to have violated hygiene regulations.
Samples of food ingredients such as soy sauce, pandan leaves, rice noodles, mushrooms, cabbage, and bean sprouts have also been taken from the outlet in question for further testing, with results yet to be known.
Dr Wu Shou-mei, director-general of Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration, was also reported as saying that the restaurant had passed safety inspections in 2022, but investigations following the recent deaths found several sanitary issues including cockroach droppings and failures in keeping workers’ health records. – March 27, 2024