Woman under treatment for food poisoning after eating kuzhimanthi, dies

THRISSUR: A woman who was under treatment for food poisoning after eating kuzhimanthi from a hotel in Perinjanam, has died. She has been identified as Usaiba (56), a native of Kuttilakadavu. Usaiba, who was undergoing treatment at Thrissur Medical College, died early Tuesday morning. She had food from Zain Hotel in Perinjanam near Moonnupeedika.

More than 100 people who had food from the same hotel are undergoing treatment. Usaiba’s relatives said they bought parcel from the hotel on Saturday night and had it at home. Three other inmates of the house experienced difficulties and were hospitalised Sunday morning. Usaiba was alright then. Usaiba was admitted to Perinjanam Social Health Centre due to physical discomfort on Monday morning. She was shifted to Irinjalakuda General Hospital and in the evening to Thrissur Medical College Hospital after her condition worsened. She died at 3 am this morning while undergoing treatment.

The initial conclusion is that mayonnaise turned villain in the incident. The move of the food safety department is to continue widespread inspection in the context of more food poisoning during the rainy season. Those who ate directly from the hotel and those who bought parcels had food poisoning.

A joint inspection by the health department, panchayat, food and safety officials and the police got hint that mayonnaise is the villain. The test result will be obtained in two weeks and only after that, it can be confirmed. Mayonnaise has caused food poisoning in the past also. Following that, mayonnaise with raw egg was banned everywhere, including in hotels and restaurants in the state. The hoteliers had said that they would supply mayonnaise using pasteurized eggs, but the problem was that it was not cooked properly.