Chewing tobacco poisons noodles

2006-06-26 13:16

Phnom Penh - Thirty Cambodians suffered food poisoning after eating homemade noodles contaminated with chewing tobacco that had dropped into the batter from the cook's mouth, police said on Monday.

The victims, mostly children, began vomiting after eating noodle soup for breakfast on Friday in a village in Banteay Meanchey province, about 300km north-west of the capital, Phnom Penh, said deputy district police chief Yort Ray.

An investigation turned up traces of chewing tobacco in the noodles - and led police to 39-year-old wholesale noodle vendor Sieng Seng, who had supplied the shops where people got sick.

Sieng Sang, an avid tobacco chewer like many poor Cambodian women, said she had not realised a wad had dropped into the flour as she was talking.

Police gave her a lesson in hygiene and told her to be more careful when opening her mouth while cooking, Yort Ray said.

- AP