Ministry of Health recommends cutting down parasol trees in schools

(Baonghean.vn) - After recent cases of mass poisoning among students due to eating fruit on school grounds, the Ministry of Health has issued an official dispatch requesting the implementation of urgent preventive measures.

» Cua Lo: More than 50 primary school students were poisoned after eating parasol fruit

» Nghe An: 37 more students poisoned by eating parasol fruit

Recently, there have been a number of poisoning cases caused by eating fruits of certain trees and flowers found on the campus of educational institutions, affecting the health of kindergarten, primary and secondary school students.

The reason is that these plants and flowers, grown as ornamental plants or grown wild, contain organic compounds that can be toxic to the body when eaten.

The seeds of the Chinese parasol tree have a nutty essential oil but are highly toxic. If eaten, it will cause dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea. In severe cases, it can cause enteritis and gastritis. Photo courtesy.

To proactively prevent poisoning and ensure the health of students, the Department of Food Safety, Ministry of Health has issued an official dispatch requesting local authorities where poisoning occurs to urgently deploy measures to handle and verify the cause of poisoning to prevent, investigate, handle and overcome the consequences of poisoning. At the same time, an official dispatch requesting a number of units under the Ministry of Education and Training to coordinate and urgently deploy a number of urgent measures nationwide, specifically as follows.

1. Direct local educational institutions to review, immediately remove and not plant trees and flowers containing toxic compounds that are grown for ornamental purposes or growing wild on campus. If they must be planted for study or research purposes, there must be warning signs and appropriate safety control measures for each of these trees and flowers. Some trees and flowers that contain compounds that can cause poisoning when eaten include:

- Hemlock (Gelsemium elegans); Datura alba Lour… contain toxic alkaloids.

- Oleander (Nerium oleander L.); Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum.); Allamanda cathartica L.; Asclepias curassavica L.... contain cardiac glycosides

- Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L.);parasol tree(Jatropha podagrica)… contains toxic protein (Toxalbumin).

2. Strengthen information, propaganda and education on food safety and food poisoning prevention. Focus on communicating measures to ensure food safety and prevent poisoning from natural toxins. Absolutely do not use any part of plants or flowers that contain toxic or suspected compounds for food or drink.

3. Regularly monitor and promptly detect any suspected health problems caused by eating plants or flowers containing toxic compounds and notify the nearest medical facility for timely coordination and treatment.

Source: VFA