Algeria: 400 children hospitalised due to food poisoning, parents protest

Food poisoning which affected around 400 pupils at a junior high school in Bordj Bou Arreridj province (300 km east of Algiers) sparked anger among residents including the pupils’ parents on Thursday.

They surrounded the school on Thursday where its workers, teachers and staff were held as an act of protest against what had happened to the children.

The protestors asked for the presence of the prefect who actually came there and promised to find an immediate solution.

On Wednesday, the pupils who were served rice, meat and custard pie suffered from stomach-aches, vomiting and fainting, according to Toufik, 13, and Alaedine, 14, who were among the affected pupils.

The affected children were taken to hospital where 75 of them are still there.

A special commission has been set up by the prefect who appointed representatives of education department, health department and property bureau for investigation.