A food poisoning outbreak in Xishui county, located in southwestern China’s Guizhou province, has led to the hospitalization of more than 100 people following consumption of locally produced sandwich pastries. Health authorities confirmed the incident primarily affected students and young children, with 136 people requiring medical observation or treatment as of Sunday, September 22.
The affected population included 89 students and 10 preschool children among the total cases. Medical officials reported that patients presented with symptoms characteristic of foodborne illness, including fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Despite the widespread nature of the outbreak, authorities stated that all patients maintained stable vital signs throughout their treatment. By Monday afternoon, three of those affected had recovered sufficiently for discharge, while the remaining patients showed marked improvement with no cases classified as life-threatening.
Investigation and Source Identification
The outbreak came to official attention on Wednesday evening, September 17, when the Xishui county government received reports from the local health bureau regarding patients seeking medical care for symptoms linked to consuming sandwich pastries. This prompted immediate action from multiple government agencies, with health, disease control, market regulation, and public security departments launching a coordinated investigation.
The investigation traced the contaminated products to the Maikemeijiale Food Factory, a local manufacturer that distributed the implicated sandwich pastries exclusively through its eight company-operated retail locations within Xishui county. Sales records indicated the contaminated products were available from September 15 through September 17, during which the factory processed three production batches across 142 individual orders. The total distribution reached 181 items sold to 137 customers, with authorities documenting that 187 people consumed the products. Additional reports suggested 208 sandwiches were initially distributed, with 29 items successfully recalled before consumption.
Laboratory analysis conducted by disease control specialists at provincial, municipal, and county levels identified Salmonella contamination as the cause of the acute gastroenteritis cases. Officials definitively ruled out intentional contamination, confirming the incident resulted from accidental contamination rather than deliberate poisoning.
Emergency Response Measures
Local authorities implemented response protocols immediately following confirmation of the outbreak. On September 17, market regulation officials sealed all production materials and remaining finished products at the factory for testing while ordering the immediate cessation of operations at both the manufacturing facility and all eight retail outlets.
A specialized working group was established to oversee medical treatment coordination and ongoing investigative efforts. Healthcare facilities established expedited treatment protocols for affected patients, while a joint medical expert panel was formed to standardize diagnosis and treatment approaches. Authorities proactively contacted known purchasers of the contaminated batches to encourage medical evaluation.
While most patients received treatment at the primary hospital in Xishui county, severe cases were transferred to medical facilities in larger urban centers for specialized care. Follow-up monitoring of 51 people who consumed the pastries but were not hospitalized revealed no development of fever, diarrhea, or related symptoms. Investigations by market regulation, health, and public security departments continue, with officials stating that involved businesses and responsible personnel will face appropriate legal consequences based on investigation findings.
