Dessert downs 14 students in Alabang

A least 14 graduating elementary students of a private school in Muntinlupa City were hospitalized for allegedly eating spoiled dessert at a graduation ball last Wednesday.

Reports from the Muntinlupa City Health Office said most of the students of De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Alabang were rushed to the Asian Hospital and Medical Center after showing symptoms of gastroenteritis.

A school physician, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said two more affected students went to their clinic yesterday morning and complained about abdominal pain.

According to the doctor, the students, mostly aged 13, were possibly downed by the dessert served at the country club, where the ball was held.

Health officials are eyeing the mango and strawberry crepes served at the party as the source of the food poisoning since almost all of them ate the particular dessert.

As of yesterday afternoon, officials said affected students were declared far from danger. Most of them have been discharged from the hospital.

Still, authorities said they would conduct an investigation, beginning with tracing the maker of the dessert.

A City Hall official said that while it is their task to determine the cause of incident, subsequent actions may be up to the school administration or the parents of the affected students themselves."