Banana fritters down 50 students in Cotabato

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - Around 50 elementary students in M’lang town in Cotabato fell ill after eating banana fritters on Tuesday.

Dr. Glecerio Sotea, M’lang municipal health officer, said students of the Palma Perez Elementary School suffered abdominal pain, dizziness and vomiting after eating banana fritters locally known as pinaypay.

Initial reports said the vendor mistakenly used alum or tawas instead of white sugar on the banana fritters.

Sotea said investigation showed that the use of alum was not intentional.

She said 15 of the students remained confined in a hospital yesterday.