12 family members hospitalised for suspected food ...

12 family members hospitalised for suspected food poisoning

Can I Sue if I get Food Poisoning from a Restaurant?

Zim Now Writer

A family of 12 from Village Two in Umguza District, Matabeleland North region, are fighting for their lives due to food poisoning after consuming contaminated sadza on Tuesday evening.

The family members were taken to Mpilo Central Hospital in the early hours of Wednesday with acute diarrhoea and vomiting.

This happened after the family members reportedly left their corn at a nearby grinding mill since there were no attendants.

Later, one of the family members went back to the mealie-meal mill to retrieve it.

Police are currently looking into what happened.

Seven adults and five children were fighting for their lives as a result of the poisoning, a family member, Ms. Rebecca Moyo, said in an interview at Mpilo.

“On Tuesday, my brother James Ncube took a bucket of maize to a local grinding mill and was told to come back later as there were no attendants. Later on, he collected mealie-meal and proceeded to his house.

His wife prepared sadza and they ate as a family. At around 6PM, I went to my brother and asked for mealie-meal as I had run out. We stay a few metres from their homestead as we are one family.

“I managed to cook sadza, which we ate with my grandchildren and we retired to bed. At around 10PM, one of my nephews came knocking at my door saying the whole family had fallen sick suddenly.

I rushed there and inquired what they had eaten only to discover that it was sadza and vegetables.

“I then decided to go back to my homestead and check on my grandchildren who were sleeping only to discover that they, too, were up and vomiting. We then called for help and one neighbour suggested that we all be taken to the hospital.

"By the time they left, the children had soiled their blankets and the homes were in a mess as there was vomit all over.

She said the family members got to Mpilo Central Hospital at around 4am and they were all admitted.

“I am happy because we all got medical attention and after some hours, the seven of us were discharged after we recovered. Our blood pressures were up as well but all adults were treated and discharged.

“Our children and grandchildren are still admitted but the nurses have assured us that they are recovering well.

“We are not sure what transpired and how our maize meal got contaminated but we’re grateful that we didn’t die, it could have been worse,” she said.