Promo product sends 11 pupils to hospital
HEALTH authorities in Dagupan cautioned school officials against allowing groups or individuals to conduct commercial product demonstrations inside their campuses to protect their pupils and students from possible harm, including poisoning.
The warning came after 10 students of the Living Lights Academy Foundation in barangay Bonuan Gueset were hospitalized on November 21 due to alleged fertilizer poisoning.
The victims were suspected to have inhaled particles of urea that was part of a promotional package they bought from sales persons demonstrated their products in the school on November 17.
The victims, aged 8 to 11 years, were rushed by school authorities to Decena Hospital after complaining of having moderate to severe abdominal pains, dizziness and muscle pains.
Doctors said initial findings indicated that the cases are compatible with urea (fertilizer) poisoning.
Dr. Leonard Carbonell said there were no fatalities as four of the last remaining patients of the hospital were discharged a day after the incident.
It was learned that the urea came from a promotional package of one sachet of sunflower seeds, one repacked sunflower seeds for planting, and one repacked plastic of urea.
Some of the students bought the product.
Carbonnel said some of the people involved in the selling of sunflower seeds and fertilizers failed to secure a permit to sell from the city health office and the One-stop-shop Business Center.
“It’s very important for school officials to ask first for permit before allowing any food demo inside their classrooms to prevent and protect students from food poisoning, Carbonell advised.
The sunflower seeds with brand name ‘Grower’ as well as the fertilizer were forwarded to the Bureau of Food and Drugs for further analysis.
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