The Health Department has initiated an urgent investigation into possible food poisoning in Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng Provinces, following the deaths of five children who allegedly consumed toxic noodles. He said during the meeting; preliminary investigation reports into the children’s deaths were obtained, including the food brand name, supplier or manufacturer, stores where the food was purchased.

“A team of environmental health experts has collected all other items related to the suspected food products and sent them to a laboratory for testing. The department would await the laboratory testing results and forensic investigations before making a conclusive statement,” Mohale said. He added that this crucial information would enable the health officials to act immediately. “This crucial information will enable officials to establish a possible link between the noodles alleged to have been consumed in the provinces and the deaths, to immediately notify the suppliers or manufacturers, while at the same time decide on the possible recall of all suspected food products from the shelves for large scale laboratory testing as part of the broader investigation process to prevent the possibility of more loss of lives,” he said.