Taichung: Thirty-two people at the American School in Taichung fell sick and developed symptoms that included vomiting and dizziness on Friday, in a case of suspected food poisoning, according to Taichung City government.

According to Focus Taiwan, the city's Office of Food and Drug Safety stated that 130 teachers and students consumed lunch boxes ordered from outside the school, with 32 individuals falling ill. The city's Fire Bureau received a report about the suspected food poisoning at 3:35 p.m. and dispatched several ambulances to the school located in Beitun District. Nine teachers and students were taken to Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital and Taichung Medical University Hospital for treatment, while the remaining affected students were taken home by their parents and later sought medical attention.

Local news media reported that some students vomited five to six times and contacted their parents for help. The Office of Food and Drug Safety dispatched a team to inspect the school and the restaurant that provided the lunch boxes, collecting samples for analysis. The results are expected to be released within two weeks at the earliest. The office also mentioned that if any pathogenic bacteria are detected in the food samples, the vendor could face a fine ranging from NT$60,000 (US$1,974) to NT$200 million under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

Furthermore, if the pathogenic bacteria in the food samples and samples from sick individuals are found to be the same, the food vendor will be subject to further investigation by police and prosecutors. In response, Taichung's Education Bureau has instructed the school to monitor affected teachers and students and provide necessary assistance to the parents of sick students. The school has also been instructed to help affected individuals seek insurance compensation.