The Food Testing Laboratory of the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) at Yusipang in Thimphu confirmed that 13 people admitted at Damphu hospital last month was due to food poisoning. These people had fallen sick after consuming food items from the local bakeries in Damphu town. The BAFRA officials in Tsirang said they will penalise and monitor the bakeries closely.
On August 20, 13 people were admitted at Damphu hospital, and five in Mendrelgang BHU, with suspected food poisoning. After the samples were sent at the Food Testing Laboratory of the BAFRA at Yusipang in the capital, it was confirmed that the patients had suffered food poisoning.
According to the BAFRA official in Tsirang, the coli form causing food poisoning might have formed unknowingly during handling or transporting the food item. However, BAFRA officials said, they will now deal with the matter according to the Food Act of Bhutan 2005.
BBS’s reporter Yeshey Nidup says, the two bakeries in Damphu town has been closed for more than a week now. “We’ll issue a notification and monitor food items closely. Once they meet our standards, they’ll be in normal business again,” said one of the BAFRA officials, K.B Tamang.
