One pupil still in hospital after eating expired gum

By Khanyisa Tabata
11 May 2011

The provincial health department says one learner is still being treated for food poisoning after eating expired chewing gum.

Health department spokesperson Mark van der Heever says the learners aged seven and 14 were transported to Kraaifontein, Delft and Elsies River Community Health Centres as well as Tygerberg & Karl Bremer Hospital. Children were also treated at the Fisantekraal Clinic but were discharged

Van der Heever says the Environmental Health officers from the City of Cape Town's Health Department investigated the matter and samples of the goods were taken for laboratory tests.

He says the Western Cape Department of Health appeals to the communities not to eat food which had already expired as it could be very dangerous.