(CNN Philippines) — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday (April 13) said there were no toxic substances found in the milk tea that allegedly caused the deaths of two persons last Thursday (April 9).
In a news conference, the DOH said toxicologists from both the DOH and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) examined samples of the milk tea drank by the two victims – teahouse owner Wiliam Abrigo and customer Suzaine Dagohoy – and that “preliminary results were negative for suspected toxic substances.”
The joint medical team also studied the footage from the Ergo Cha Milk Tea House to assess “the clinical manifestations and course of illness of the victims.”
According to Health Secretary Janette Garin, the tests did not yield toxic substances such as cyanide, arsenic, nitrate, and nitrite.
To be sure, however, Garin said they expanded the tests to include biological samples such as blood, tissues, and gastric contents collected during the victims’ autopsy.
Dagohoy and her companion, Arnold Aydalla, bought Hokkaido-flavored milk tea from Ergo Cha but complained to Abrigo that the beverages they bought tasted different.
Abrigo disputed their claim and took a sip of the milk tea to prove that it was fine.
Abrigo and Dagohoy collapsed and were taken to hospital where they died.
Ayadalla was also brought to the hospital where he was confined, but luckily survived the incident.
Isolated case?
The DOH, meanwhile, said the incident seems to be an isolated case of poisoning, adding that Dagohoy and Aydalla were regular customers of Ergo Cha and that not even once did the two exhibit any negative symptoms prior to the incident.
The DOH also asked the public to be calm and “not to generalize the situation as many small and medium scale enterprises are dependent on the sale of milk tea and similar beverages.”
Random checks
The incident prompted the city of Manila to conduct random inspections on the city’s milk tea shops on Tuesday (April 14), with Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno leading the rounds around Sampaloc and the areas around the University of Santo Tomas.
Photos from his official Facebook page showed Moreno checking paperwork of the shops as well as sampling their products.
One photo showed Moreno putting a “closed” sign on the door of one shop, indicating that it had violated the city’s ordinances.
Moreno said, “Isinara po namin yung walang kaukulang business permit, sanitary permit, at mga workers na walang health card certificate.”
