Seven people hit by food poisoning in Sharjah

Sharjah: Seven people were admitted to a hospital in Sharjah after they suffered food poisoning after eating samosas (Indian food) from a bakery, according to a report by the Arabic Daily Emarat Al Yowm.

The seven people from three Indian families were admitted to hospital. One patient was released, while six others remain in the hospital and are under supervision.

The hospital said the emergency section of the hospital received the seven food poisoning cases over a number of days, with patients complaining that they were suffering from abdominal pain and vomiting. They were immediately given the necessary treatment and medical care after it was determined that they were suffering from food poisoning.

The hospital said that it has reported the incidents to the Ministry of Health, and has forwarded the medical reports.

Engineer Sultan Al Mualla, Director General of Sharjah Municipality, said the municipality did not receive any reports from the hospital, police, or any other body, and pointed out that upon receiving a complaint, the municipality would immediately follow it up and take the necessary measures, which is to send inspectors to the food establishment to question and to verify claims made in the complaint.

A member of one of the three families, J.B, who suffered food poisoning told the Arabic Daily that his family, joined by another family, were setting out on a trip to Al Ain when they decided to order vegetable and meat samosas from a bakery in Sharjah. He said that after eating the food, his wife, son and daughter began to experience severe stomach pain and nausea, and eventually began to vomit.

He said that members of the accompanying family who also ate from the bakery were suffering from similar symptoms. "We immediately headed to Zuleikha Hospital, who confirmed that it was food poisoning. Some recovered and were allowed to leave the hospital after several hours, but my children remain in the hospital. The hospital is not serving my daughter any food until her condition fully stabilises," J.B said.

"We told the hospital about the samosas we had, and they informed us that another family that is currently staying at the hospital are also suffering from food poisoning after having samosas from the same bakery."

"I have not filed a complaint to the municipality or police. I just want my family and all the other patients to be safe and well, and for the bakery to bear all medical expenses for their treatment," he continued.

J.B said that he met with the owner of the bakery, who refuted any claims or responsibility to the food poisoning his family members suffered. The owner argued that some expired ingredients were maybe used in preparing the samosas, and said that the supplier of the ingredients should be held responsible, not the bakery.

"He also vehemently refused to bear any of the patients' medical expenses," J.B said.