TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The number of people affected by suspected food poisoning after dining at a buffet in a Taipei mall has risen to 56, with norovirus suspected to be the cause.
Taipei City Department of Health said on Tuesday it had received hospital reports of nine people who experienced vomiting and diarrhea after eating at the Inparadise buffet in the Breeze Xinyi mall on Sunday and Monday.
An investigation found 42 people dined on Sunday and 14 people dined on Monday. The department said it will continue to monitor reports from medical institutions.
On Thursday, the department said an application was submitted to the Centers for Disease Control to launch an epidemiological investigation. Health authorities, the CDC, and the Food and Drug Administration went to the restaurant to investigate.
The department said if the investigation confirms food poisoning or if environmental samples, employee hand samples, and patient samples test positive for the same pathogen, the restaurant could face penalties ranging from NT$60,000 (US$1,800) to NT$200 million for violating Article 15 of the Food Safety and Sanitation Act.
The department said cases appear consistent with norovirus infection. Norovirus is one of the most common causes of viral gastroenteritis, which is extremely contagious and known for its rapid and widespread transmission.
The Inparadise Xinyi branch has been closed since Tuesday. Lin Kuan-chen (林冠蓁), head of the department's Food and Drug Division, said that the restaurant’s repeated requests to resume operations have been denied due to ongoing reports of suspected food poisoning cases by hospitals.
City authorities will not consider the requests to reopen the restaurant until at least 24 hours have passed without any new cases.
The department urges people who dined at the restaurant during the same period as the cases and are experiencing symptoms to promptly seek medical attention.
If the public has any food safety, hygiene, or consumer concerns, they can call the Taipei City Citizen Hotline at 1999 (for those outside Taipei, please dial 02-27208889, extension 7089). Additional information is available on the Taipei City Department of Health website.