Bad mayonnaise blamed for food poisoning

FIVE PUPILS from Limassol’s Polemidia Lyceum checked into hospital with symptoms of food poisoning on Wednesday, after eating sandwiches they bought at the school canteen.

Food samples have been taken for analysis, the results of which are expected to be announced today, the mayonnaise in the sandwiches is believed to have caused the symptoms.

“All the children ate sandwiches with mayonnaise. Three of them ate sandwiches with tomato, cucumber and mayonnaise, while the rest had chicken and mayonnaise sandwiches,” said Aristos Aristidou, President of the School’s Parents Association.

The five pupils, four girls and one boy, experienced symptoms of stomach-aches, vomiting and diarrhoea on Wednesday at midday, shortly after their break.

They were taken to Limassol General Hospital, where they remained until late in the evening. The pupils were well enough to return to school yesterday.

On the day of the incident, the Parents Association and school management alerted Health Services, which came to the school to take samples from the canteen for analysis.

Health Services officers also pointed out that it is forbidden to serve mayonnaise at school canteens, and the canteen’s operator will therefore be reported to the Education Ministry.

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