Altogether 248 students fell sick after eating a school lunch including
kidney beans in southwest China's Yunnan Province yesterday, local authorities
confirmed early today.
Investigators suspected the beans were undercooked.
The students, from Zhuyuanzhen Township High School in Fuyuan County,
complained of vomiting and nausea late Thursday afternoon and were put under
medical observation at night, a spokesman with the Fuyuan County government
said.
By 8:00 a.m. on Friday, about 170 students were still under observation at
four local hospitals.
Hospital sources said none of the cases was critical.
Kidney beans contain lectin, a toxic agent that can cause diarrhea if the
beans aren't heated thoroughly, according to health officials.
