Taipei:Fourteen students from Taipei Huaxing High School were hospitalized after ingesting tung nuts found on their school campus during a noon break. Of the affected students, 13 are expected to be discharged by the evening, while one remains under observation.
According to Focus Taiwan, the school president, Tzeng Teng-lung, explained that the students consumed the tung nuts out of curiosity due to their resemblance to almonds. The incident began when one student ate a nut and others followed. After experiencing symptoms of nausea and discomfort, they notified a teacher who arranged for their transport to local hospitals.
The group comprised 13 boys and one girl. Ten students were treated at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, where they received intravenous fluids, blood tests, and dietary advice. Symptoms included nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort; one student had eaten seven nuts, leading to vomiting. A press release from pediatrician Chin Chia-yi confirmed their symptoms improved post-treatment, allowing for discharge.
The remaining four students were treated at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Vice Superintendent Lee Wui-chiang reported one student who consumed eight nuts was kept for observation, while the other three were expected to return home the same day.
In response, Huaxing High School plans to initiate a safety campaign, emphasizing that campus plants and fruits should not be picked or eaten. Additional inspections will be conducted to prevent future incidents.
Yang Chen-chang, director of the Department of Occupational Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, highlighted that tung nuts contain compounds like tung oil and toxic saponins, which can cause gastrointestinal distress. Although not highly toxic, these nuts can lead to symptoms such as nausea and vomiting within 30 to 45 minutes of ingestion. Treatment focuses on symptom management, as no specific antidote exists.
This is not an isolated incident in Taiwan, where tung trees are common. Similar cases were reported in 2024, with affected students in Miaoli and Taoyuan recovering after treatment. Following a Taoyuan incident, warning signs were erected to alert students about the potential dangers of the trees on campus.