Hundreds of children hospitalised after drinking free milk

Nearly 400 primary pupils in the southern province of Hau Giang had to be hospitalised after drinking free milk at school on October 27.

Pupils are brought to an ambulance after drinking Nestle Milo in Hau Giang Province on October 27

Le Van Khoi, head of the provincial Food Hygiene and Safety Department, confirmed the incident. At 7 am, the pupils at Lai Hieu Primary School were given the free Nestle Milo milk. But 30 minutes later, several pupils have food poisoning symptoms and the number of poisoned pupils increased with time. The school management board quickly stopped providing milk to the pupils.

Many pupils at Nguyen Hien Primary School were also poisoned. Nga Bay General Hospital in the province has received nearly 400 pupils.

The pupils had stomach aches and were nauseous.

"The pupils had stomach aches and were nauseous. Over 100 pupils are being treated at Nga Bay General Hospital. The Milo drink was pre-mixed before being given to the pupils," he said.

According to Khoi, there are various reasons to cause the food poisoning. There may be problems with the powder or the water or the mixed milk had already expired before being provided to the pupils.

Truong Van Chin, chief of the office of Nga Bay Commune People's Committee, said the free milk was part of the programme jointly held by the provincial Department of Health and the Department of Education.

The milk was also given to pupils at a different school on October 26 but there was no food poisoning case.

Hau Giang provincial authorities are investigating the incident.