Food poisoning claimed 196 lives in China last year, a decline
of 48.56 percent over the previous year, China's Ministry of Health
told Xinhua on Wednesday.
China's hospitals and other medical facilities at all levels
treated 18,063 people for food poisoning in 2006.
There were 17 food poisoning incidents involving 100 people or
more, according to the ministry.
Most of the fatal food poisoning incidents were caused by toxic
animal and plants, especially toxic mushrooms, balloon fish and
kidney, haricot, navy beans that had been improperly cooked, the
ministry warned.
Food poisoning mostly occurred between June and September when
higher temperatures help harmful bacteria to grow.
Most food poisoning occurred in rural areas, cafeterias,
schools, said the ministry.
(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2007)