New Taipei City Bento Shop Suspected Food Poisoning Case: Patients Increase to 118
A suspected food poisoning incident at a bento shop in New Taipei City has seen the number of affected patients rise to 118. Many reported symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fever after consuming bento from Qingliu Canteen's "Gongsuo Store" and "Zhongxing Store." Currently, 11 patients are hospitalized, and 20 are under observation. The Health Bureau is investigating the pathogens from "people, objects, and environment," but sample cultivation requires time. Common food items consumed included cabbage, fried eggs, braised eggs, and white rice, suggesting potential issues with food preparation or storage.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 8, 2026 at 17:58
- 🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 19:00 (1h 2m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 18:10 (167h 10m after Collected)
The Health Bureau announced this afternoon that in the suspected food poisoning case involving Qingliu Canteen, as of 3 PM on the 8th, an additional 19 people have reported symptoms, bringing the total number of medical visits to 118. Among them, 95 people experienced symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fever after eating bento from the "Gongsuo Store," and 23 people after eating bento from the "Zhongxing Store."
According to the Health Bureau's statistics, 11 people are currently hospitalized, 20 are under observation, and the rest have returned home to recuperate after medical treatment. Wang Mei-hua, section chief of the Health Bureau's Disease Control Division, told a Central News Agency reporter in a phone interview that they are continuously tracking hospital test results. However, due to the difficulty in collecting samples, and patients being hospitalized since the 7th, sample cultivation still requires time, so no hospital has yet reported test results.
The Health Bureau stated that the core of food poisoning investigation lies in "people, objects, and environment," primarily relying on food and leftover food samples, as well as patient stool and vomit samples, to test for pathogens. These include bacteria (such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus), viruses (such as Norovirus), mycotoxins (such as Aflatoxin), and pesticides, veterinary drugs, or chemical substances.
The Health Bureau said that all three branches of Qingliu Canteen are still temporarily closed and have not yet applied for reopening. The individuals who sought medical attention due to discomfort had eaten bento from the "Gongsuo Store" and "Zhongxing Store." The "Minquan Store" was preventatively asked to suspend operations.
Cardinal Tien Hospital in Xindian pointed out this afternoon that most patients reported having jointly consumed cabbage, fried eggs, braised eggs, and white rice. Dr. Lu Yun-feng, an emergency physician, noted that these ingredients are not high-risk foods, but food poisoning can still occur if preparation or storage is improper.
Dr. Lu Yun-feng explained that if food is not fully cooked or is left at room temperature for extended periods, especially rice-based foods, bacteria like Bacillus cereus can easily grow and produce toxins during reproduction. Even reheating cannot completely remove these toxins, and consumption may lead to symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. It is recommended to avoid leaving meals at room temperature for long periods, and if not fully consumed, they should be promptly refrigerated.
New Taipei City Government's Consumer Protection Officer's Office told a Central News Agency reporter that they have not yet received any complaints from patients. The priority is to care for the patients' health. Preliminary understanding indicates that the bento vendor has product liability insurance, which should cover related medical expenses. The vendor is currently suspended from business and cannot be contacted, but follow-up compensation will be continuously monitored. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150408
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According to the Health Bureau's statistics, 11 people are currently hospitalized, 20 are under observation, and the rest have returned home to recuperate after medical treatment. Wang Mei-hua, section chief of the Health Bureau's Disease Control Division, told a Central News Agency reporter in a phone interview that they are continuously tracking hospital test results. However, due to the difficulty in collecting samples, and patients being hospitalized since the 7th, sample cultivation still requires time, so no hospital has yet reported test results.
The Health Bureau stated that the core of food poisoning investigation lies in "people, objects, and environment," primarily relying on food and leftover food samples, as well as patient stool and vomit samples, to test for pathogens. These include bacteria (such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus), viruses (such as Norovirus), mycotoxins (such as Aflatoxin), and pesticides, veterinary drugs, or chemical substances.
The Health Bureau said that all three branches of Qingliu Canteen are still temporarily closed and have not yet applied for reopening. The individuals who sought medical attention due to discomfort had eaten bento from the "Gongsuo Store" and "Zhongxing Store." The "Minquan Store" was preventatively asked to suspend operations.
Cardinal Tien Hospital in Xindian pointed out this afternoon that most patients reported having jointly consumed cabbage, fried eggs, braised eggs, and white rice. Dr. Lu Yun-feng, an emergency physician, noted that these ingredients are not high-risk foods, but food poisoning can still occur if preparation or storage is improper.
Dr. Lu Yun-feng explained that if food is not fully cooked or is left at room temperature for extended periods, especially rice-based foods, bacteria like Bacillus cereus can easily grow and produce toxins during reproduction. Even reheating cannot completely remove these toxins, and consumption may lead to symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. It is recommended to avoid leaving meals at room temperature for long periods, and if not fully consumed, they should be promptly refrigerated.
New Taipei City Government's Consumer Protection Officer's Office told a Central News Agency reporter that they have not yet received any complaints from patients. The priority is to care for the patients' health. Preliminary understanding indicates that the bento vendor has product liability insurance, which should cover related medical expenses. The vendor is currently suspended from business and cannot be contacted, but follow-up compensation will be continuously monitored. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150408
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
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Text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.