Last Wednesday, The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA) (computer translated) was warned by parents of children as well as by the Flemish regional public health agency that several children became ill in 2 schools near Pittem and Meulebeke, about ten of which were hospitalized.
This prompted a temporary closure of the establishment that delivered the meals to the schools concerned.
The intoxication of children in various schools in Flanders was caused by the salmonella bacteria, and one of the possible causes of these intoxications is the meal served to these children. On Wednesday, May 23, when the Food Agency was informed about 30 sick children in 2 schools, they went to the caterer who provided these 2 canteens. After an initial inspection, there was nothing to establish a causal link between this company and the young patients. Our inspectors have taken about ten food samples that are being analyzed. The results will be known quickly.
By Friday afternoon, 64 children from 15 different schools in Flanders working with the same caterer were reported as ill.
Other infections are not excluded. The source of the outbreak has not been detected and the investigation continues.
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