[First-year junior high student who developed symptoms]
“I woke up feeling hot and heavy, felt nauseous and went to the bathroom. I kept vomiting over and over again.”
In mid-March, elementary and junior high school students complained of symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. At eight elementary and junior high schools in Kumatori Town, more than 300 children and students were affected by a mass food poisoning incident.
Kansai TV conducted an exclusive interview with a person familiar with the internal situation of the bread supplier that was identified by the public health center as the cause. What was revealed were “doubts.”
⸻
[Person familiar with the company’s internal situation]
“The people who directly handled the bread tested negative, while the ones who tested positive were only those involved in delivery. As for whether the bread is truly the cause, we have doubts.”
Why did the infection spread this far? Interviews with experts revealed the astonishing “strength of infectivity” of norovirus.
⸻
[Tezukayama Gakuin University Professor Teiichi Nishikawa]
“There are reports that just one contaminated food handler has caused as many as 2,000 cases of food poisoning in the past.”
We conducted a thorough investigation into the “truth behind the mass food poisoning.”
⸻
■ 647 people developed symptoms; 302 officially identified as food poisoning cases
On the 19th of this month, the Board of Education in Kumatori Town received a report from the principal of a municipal junior high school.
⸻
[From the principal’s report]
“More than 60 students and staff are experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.”
At eight municipal elementary and junior high schools, the number of students, children, and staff reporting symptoms such as abdominal pain reached 647 as of yesterday (March 29), with 302 officially identified as food poisoning patients.
A first-year junior high school boy and his younger sister, a fifth-grade elementary school student living in Kumatori Town, spoke about how severe the symptoms were.
⸻
[Fifth-grade sister]
“I was so exhausted that even when I tried to sleep, I couldn’t.”
[First-year brother]
“I was just vomiting a lot, nonstop.”
[Fifth-grade sister]
“I had to leave early. Almost everyone — like 9 out of 10 girls — had the same symptoms. Fever and stuff.”
⸻
■ Norovirus detected in stool of bread manufacturer employee
The cause identified by the public health center was “mass food poisoning caused by school lunch bread.”
The lunch menu for March 17 listed bread as part of the meal.
The mayor of Kumatori Town also expressed surprise that bread — baked at high temperatures — was identified as the cause.
⸻
[Kumatori Town Mayor Toshiji Fujiwara]
“Since bread is baked at high temperatures, I never imagined norovirus could come from something like that.”
The bread was manufactured by Sagan Seipan in Izumisano City, and norovirus was detected in the stool of its employees.
An order to suspend business operations for Sagan Seipan was lifted as of today (March 30), but no employees were seen at the company, and it was reportedly not operating on the 30th.
⸻
■ Contamination after cooking? Insider says: “Two norovirus-positive employees were delivery staff”
Why did food poisoning occur from bread?
A video from the Miyagi Prefecture School Lunch Association explaining the typical process of producing and delivering school lunch bread shows the following steps:
• Heating in an oven
• Inspection for foreign objects
• Delivery to schools by vehicle
Since norovirus is destroyed by heat, Osaka Prefecture believes contamination occurred during post-cooking handling.
The reporting team obtained exclusive testimony from someone familiar with Sagan Seipan’s internal situation.
⸻
[Insider]
“According to the public health center, two employees tested positive by PCR.”
(Q: What kind of work did those two do?)
“They were mainly involved in delivery. Delivery staff don’t directly touch the bread.”
⸻
■ Food poisoning also occurred at four schools served by a negative-tested delivery worker
According to the insider, norovirus was detected only in the two delivery staff who transported bread to schools. They may handle the containers holding the bread, but they do not directly touch the bread itself.
⸻
[Insider]
“Those handling inspection and packing were all negative. The people directly touching the bread were negative, while only delivery staff were positive. So we have doubts as to whether the bread is truly the cause.
Of the three delivery workers, two who tested positive delivered to four schools. One who tested negative also delivered to four schools. Food poisoning still occurred there — that’s where the doubts come from.”
Because food poisoning also occurred at the four schools served by the negative-tested delivery worker, the insider said they question whether it was appropriate to conclude that the bread was the cause based on a short investigation period.
⸻
[Insider]
“We have proper measures — air pressure at entry to remove contaminants, thorough handwashing, separate restroom use, and separation of the factory and changing rooms.
We undergo annual inspections by the Izumisano public health center, and last year we scored 97 out of 100. We believe we are exemplary in hygiene.
I don’t think Sagan Seipan has been careless. Depending on the situation, shutting down the business may even become an option.”
Those breads at combini and grocery stores are like sensitive, air filled plastic pouches. Don’t they pop or get leaks that might be unnoticeable ?
More reasons why sick employees should not be allowed to go to work.
Especially when involved in food prep.
So after reading this article, they basically don’t know.
If the positive norovirus deliverers didn’t wash their hands and had the virus strain on them while handing things over to the cafeteria staff, the cafeteria staff could’ve contracted it. If there wasn’t proper handwashing at these stations then even a light handling would cause transmission.
Ludwig and Michael had the same bread.
I’m reading this as there’s literally a ちゃちゃ入れマンデー airing right this moment all about shokupan.
I remember having norovirus once before for about a week. I do not wish that shit upon anyone except my worst enemies.
It’s like that scene in Swing Girls with the bentos
9 comments
March 31, 5:00 AM
⸻
[First-year junior high student who developed symptoms]
“I woke up feeling hot and heavy, felt nauseous and went to the bathroom. I kept vomiting over and over again.”
In mid-March, elementary and junior high school students complained of symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. At eight elementary and junior high schools in Kumatori Town, more than 300 children and students were affected by a mass food poisoning incident.
Kansai TV conducted an exclusive interview with a person familiar with the internal situation of the bread supplier that was identified by the public health center as the cause. What was revealed were “doubts.”
⸻
[Person familiar with the company’s internal situation]
“The people who directly handled the bread tested negative, while the ones who tested positive were only those involved in delivery. As for whether the bread is truly the cause, we have doubts.”
Why did the infection spread this far? Interviews with experts revealed the astonishing “strength of infectivity” of norovirus.
⸻
[Tezukayama Gakuin University Professor Teiichi Nishikawa]
“There are reports that just one contaminated food handler has caused as many as 2,000 cases of food poisoning in the past.”
We conducted a thorough investigation into the “truth behind the mass food poisoning.”
⸻
■ 647 people developed symptoms; 302 officially identified as food poisoning cases
On the 19th of this month, the Board of Education in Kumatori Town received a report from the principal of a municipal junior high school.
⸻
[From the principal’s report]
“More than 60 students and staff are experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.”
At eight municipal elementary and junior high schools, the number of students, children, and staff reporting symptoms such as abdominal pain reached 647 as of yesterday (March 29), with 302 officially identified as food poisoning patients.
A first-year junior high school boy and his younger sister, a fifth-grade elementary school student living in Kumatori Town, spoke about how severe the symptoms were.
⸻
[Fifth-grade sister]
“I was so exhausted that even when I tried to sleep, I couldn’t.”
[First-year brother]
“I was just vomiting a lot, nonstop.”
[Fifth-grade sister]
“I had to leave early. Almost everyone — like 9 out of 10 girls — had the same symptoms. Fever and stuff.”
⸻
■ Norovirus detected in stool of bread manufacturer employee
The cause identified by the public health center was “mass food poisoning caused by school lunch bread.”
The lunch menu for March 17 listed bread as part of the meal.
The mayor of Kumatori Town also expressed surprise that bread — baked at high temperatures — was identified as the cause.
⸻
[Kumatori Town Mayor Toshiji Fujiwara]
“Since bread is baked at high temperatures, I never imagined norovirus could come from something like that.”
The bread was manufactured by Sagan Seipan in Izumisano City, and norovirus was detected in the stool of its employees.
An order to suspend business operations for Sagan Seipan was lifted as of today (March 30), but no employees were seen at the company, and it was reportedly not operating on the 30th.
⸻
■ Contamination after cooking? Insider says: “Two norovirus-positive employees were delivery staff”
Why did food poisoning occur from bread?
A video from the Miyagi Prefecture School Lunch Association explaining the typical process of producing and delivering school lunch bread shows the following steps:
• Heating in an oven
• Inspection for foreign objects
• Delivery to schools by vehicle
Since norovirus is destroyed by heat, Osaka Prefecture believes contamination occurred during post-cooking handling.
The reporting team obtained exclusive testimony from someone familiar with Sagan Seipan’s internal situation.
⸻
[Insider]
“According to the public health center, two employees tested positive by PCR.”
(Q: What kind of work did those two do?)
“They were mainly involved in delivery. Delivery staff don’t directly touch the bread.”
⸻
■ Food poisoning also occurred at four schools served by a negative-tested delivery worker
According to the insider, norovirus was detected only in the two delivery staff who transported bread to schools. They may handle the containers holding the bread, but they do not directly touch the bread itself.
⸻
[Insider]
“Those handling inspection and packing were all negative. The people directly touching the bread were negative, while only delivery staff were positive. So we have doubts as to whether the bread is truly the cause.
Of the three delivery workers, two who tested positive delivered to four schools. One who tested negative also delivered to four schools. Food poisoning still occurred there — that’s where the doubts come from.”
Because food poisoning also occurred at the four schools served by the negative-tested delivery worker, the insider said they question whether it was appropriate to conclude that the bread was the cause based on a short investigation period.
⸻
[Insider]
“We have proper measures — air pressure at entry to remove contaminants, thorough handwashing, separate restroom use, and separation of the factory and changing rooms.
We undergo annual inspections by the Izumisano public health center, and last year we scored 97 out of 100. We believe we are exemplary in hygiene.
I don’t think Sagan Seipan has been careless. Depending on the situation, shutting down the business may even become an option.”
Those breads at combini and grocery stores are like sensitive, air filled plastic pouches. Don’t they pop or get leaks that might be unnoticeable ?
More reasons why sick employees should not be allowed to go to work.
Especially when involved in food prep.
So after reading this article, they basically don’t know.
If the positive norovirus deliverers didn’t wash their hands and had the virus strain on them while handing things over to the cafeteria staff, the cafeteria staff could’ve contracted it. If there wasn’t proper handwashing at these stations then even a light handling would cause transmission.
Ludwig and Michael had the same bread.
I’m reading this as there’s literally a ちゃちゃ入れマンデー airing right this moment all about shokupan.
I remember having norovirus once before for about a week. I do not wish that shit upon anyone except my worst enemies.
It’s like that scene in Swing Girls with the bentos
Comments are closed.