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PHNOM
PENH (Reuters) - Some 600 Cambodian garment factory workers
were sent to hospital with suspected food poisoning early
on Tuesday after several people fainted after eating,
factory and local government officials said. "Last
night the factory sent about 600 workers to hospital,"
said Albert Tan, general manager of Singapore"s Suntex
Pte Ltd garment factory on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.
Sok Lakhena, deputy cabinet director for the Phnom Penh
Municipality, told Reuters 148 cases of food poisoning
had been confirmed. The incident happened at around 2
a.m. (0900 GMT), about half an hour after a break for
a meal of rice and noodle soup, Sok Lakhena said.
The
food was prepared in the factory"s pantry. Tan said
some workers began fainting, which frightened others into
thinking everyone had been poisoned. "I am very sad
and very sorry this incident happened last night,"
Tan said. The factory would pay workers" hospital
bills and salaries while they were in hospital, he said.
The municipality conducted a preliminary investigation
and concluded that conditions in the factory, which operates
around the clock and employs 2,500 workers, were not to
blame, Sok Lakhena said. An investigation is continuing.
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