GUIGUINTO, Bulacan — Mayor Ambrosio “Boy” Cruz of this town has ordered a halt to the distribution of cakes to elderly birthday celebrants after food poisoning cases were reported by some villagers.
At least 20 residents here were brought to hospitals on Friday last week, after experiencing symptoms of food poisoning, such as vomiting and diarrhea.
“Our initial investigation showed that the cause (of the food poisoning) is contaminated water but we are taking precautionary measures by stopping the distribution of the cakes being given to senior citizens, which they claimed to be the possible source of the food poisoning,” Cruz told the Philippine News Agency in a text message on Monday.
“We temporarily stopped the distribution of the birthday cake gifts. It is an isolated case and we have been doing this for almost six years,” he said.
Cruz noted that the long delivery period could possibly cause the spoilage of the “yema” cakes, as it takes several hours for the cakes to get from the supplier to the Lingkod Barangay and finally, to the different recipients.
The mayor noted that instead of food, the local government will now send the birthday celebrants such gift items as towels.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Provincial Health Office, headed by Joy Gomez, is looking into the food poisoning incident in Guiguinto town.
Gomez said initial reports showed that 20 food poisoning cases were reported after eating “yema” cake given to senior citizens celebrating their birthdays from five barangays of Guiguinto.
“All the victims of food poisoning were attended to,” Cruz said. (Manny Balbin/PNA)
