MABALACAT – Nineteen students from the Camachiles National High School were hospitalized after eating expired chocolate candies they bought from an ambulant vendor outside their school.
The students were admitted Wednesday at the Mabalacat District Hospital after they suffered vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, and other symptoms.
Superintendent Rodney Raymond Louie Baloyo IV, town police chief, said the students ate expired chocolate bars with markings Delfi Natural Nut Xtreme Bars, Apricot, which were made in New Zealand.
Baloyo said they are set to file charges against the ambulant vendor identified as Fredmie De Leon, 24, who sold the chocolate bars to the students.
Camachiles chairman Jessie Duran reported the incident to the Dau police station.
Baloyo said they confiscated several packs of chocolate candies from the vendor. The candies were turned over to the Bureau of Food and Drugs for examination.
When interrogated, De Leon said that a certain Maribel Simbulan from Quebiawan, City of San Fernando supplied the chocolates.
All of the students were already discharged from the hospital as of this posting Wednesday
