TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A second person has died from suspected food poisoning after eating at a Taipei vegetarian restaurant.

A man in his 60s surnamed Yang (楊) is believed to have eaten at restaurant Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) on March 19, after which he fell ill, per SETN. Yang died in hospital on Tuesday morning (March 27) of kidney failure. 

The Shilin District Prosecutors Office said it is investigating the case and is in contact with the health authorities. Yang’s passing follows the death of a 39-year-old man surnamed Lu (呂) who ate at the same restaurant on Friday (March 22).

The Taipei and New Taipei City Health Bureaus said they are in contact about those who have fallen ill. This number now stands at nine, two of whom have died after stays in intensive care. 

The Taipei health bureau held a press conference after the second death and said the nine who are ill have been tested for common food poisoning-causing bacteria, but have all come up negative, per CNA. The bureau said authorities had collected food samples from the restaurant and will test them for other pathogenic substances.

The bureau said all who have fallen ill had eaten a specific type of rice noodle at the restaurant, and said a supply chain investigation has begun. It said it has identified manufacturers of the product in New Taipei and Taipei, and that they have been ordered to halt sales.

 Further investigations into other sources of potentially harmful products are ongoing, the bureau said.