Markham restaurant to be re-inspected today following mass poisoning
Posted August 31, 2022 7:28 am.
Last Updated August 31, 2022 1:05 pm.
A Markham restaurant at the centre of a mass poisoning over the weekend is expected to reopen pending one final re-inspection on Wednesday.
York Region Public health originally said Delight Restaurant and BBQ was re-inspected on Tuesday and permitted to reopen, but later said it will be allowed to open upon a successful re-inspection on Wednesday.
The region’s medical officer of health, Dr. Barry Pakes, said a dozen people went to hospital Sunday evening after eating the same chicken dish from the restaurant, located near Markham Road and Castlemore Avenue.
The restaurant was temporarily ordered to close and the suspected items, believe to be contaminated with the toxic herb aconite, were removed.
“In the case of a small business like this, there’s no reason to keep them closed,” said Pakes. “We’re very confident of what the offending item actually was.”
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Public health investigators believe a spice in the chicken dish was contaminated with aconite, a plant-based toxin found in herbs, roots and a flower. The substance is also popular in traditional Chinese medicine.
Investigators have made it clear they do not believe the poisoning was intentional and say the restaurant has fully cooperated in the investigation. Pakes said the restaurant is cleared to open after it was cleaned, reinspected, and cleared of the toxin.
He said four of the individuals who were poisoned required intensive care, but one has since been released from hospital.
Local public health officials are working with provincial and federal partners to determine whether the spice product believed to be at the centre of the incident case was available elsewhere. But, Pakes said, the risk was “very, very low” and the product is “very uncommonly used.”
“It’s not even clear if it’s available, or where it’s been distributed, but that’s what we’re investigating now,” he said.
In March, B.C.’s poison information centre warned the public not to consume Wing Hing brand sand ginger powder after two people were hospitalized. The product in that case was also suspected to have been contaminated with aconite.
Common symptoms of aconite poisoning include weakness, nausea, and dizziness. Other symptoms include numbness to the face and, in severe cases, the patient could fall into a coma.
Anyone else who dined at the Markham restaurant on Saturday or Sunday and is experiencing symptoms of illness is being asked to contact Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.
With files from the Canadian Press
