A total of 74 people have been hospitalized after eating at a
birthday banquet in Hefei, capital of eastern China's Anhui
Province.
The patients suffered vomiting, twitching, diarrhoea during the
banquet at the Congyang Hotel on Sunday noon, according to Anhui
provincial health bureau.
There were a total of 160 people eating at the same restaurant,
the bureau official said.
Thus far, 39 of the poisoned, all in a stable condition and not
in danger of losing their lives, are still receiving treatment.
Samples of food used at the feast has been collected for
investigation, and preliminary analysis showed the food poisoning
case was caused by nitrite.
Local public health and security officials are conducting
further investigations into the case.
(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2007)