103 Suspected Food Poisoning Cases After Eating Lunch Boxes at Senior Health Festival in Hongseong

Epidemiological Investigation by Chungnam Province and Hongseong County

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The health authorities have launched an investigation after a group of visitors showed symptoms of food poisoning after eating lunch boxes at a festival venue in Hongseong, Chungnam.

According to the provincial government and the Hongseong Public Health Center on the 17th, 103 elderly people experienced abdominal pain and vomiting after eating lunch boxes provided at the '2025 1st Chungnam Senior Health Grand Festival' held at the Hongju Sports Complex the previous day.

The festival, hosted by the provincial government and the Chungnam branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, was attended by about 850 people.

According to the Hongseong Public Health Center, as of 9 a.m. on the 17th, three people had been hospitalized, but fortunately, none were in critical condition, and most of those with symptoms had reportedly returned home.

The food for the event was provided by a food company based in Dangjin, which supplied about 830 lunch boxes.

Governor Kim Taeheum also attended the event.

The provincial government and the Hongseong Public Health Center are currently conducting an epidemiological investigation by collecting environmental and human samples, including preserved food samples.