Twenty-two people reported food poisoning symptoms after eating bento meals produced at a facility in Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture. Authorities ordered the facility to suspend operations for three days.
The suspension was imposed on the Yokokawa Factory of Oginoya, a bento manufacturing and sales company based in Annaka.
According to the prefectural government, the incident came to light on the 11th of this month after a person in Tokyo contacted a public health center, saying that both he and his wife suffered vomiting and diarrhea after eating a bento purchased at a service area in Gunma Prefecture.
An investigation confirmed that 22 people from nine different groups, ranging in age from under 10 to their 80s, experienced symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea after eating the “Toge no Oyako Meshi” bento produced at the factory on the 10th.
Among them, 16 sought medical treatment and two were hospitalized, though all are reportedly recovering.
Authorities determined the incident to be food poisoning caused by the bento after Staphylococcus aureus bacteria were detected in stool samples from nine patients.
The prefecture ordered the Yokokawa Factory to suspend operations for three days starting on the 19th and instructed the company to implement measures to prevent recurrence.
Oginoya posted an apology on its official website, stating that it voluntarily stopped production and shipments of the “Toge no Oyako Meshi” on the 11th. The company also announced that production and shipment of its well-known “Toge no Kamameshi” at the factory had been halted since the 15th.
Source: Yahoo
Photo: Gunma TV