By Huang Liang-chieh and Hollie Younger / Staff reporter, with staff writer

A total of 134 people have sought medical treatment across 10 hospitals in Kaohsiung for suspected food poisoning linked to a stall in Zhengyi Market (正義市場), the Kaohsiung Department of Health said today.

The market stall in Lingya District (苓雅) was selling Taiwanese spring rolls (chun juan, 春捲), or cold crepes filled with peanut powder, sugar, vegetables and often pork that are a staple during Tomb Sweeping Festival.

The earliest onset of symptoms was reported at 3:30pm on Saturday, with patients experiencing diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea and fever, the department said.

Photo courtesy of the Kaohsiung Department of Health

As of 9am today, 134 cases were reported across 10 hospitals, it said.

Ninety-six have been discharged to recover at home, seven remain under observation, two are undergoing medical treatment and 29 are hospitalized, it added.

The stall is to be fined NT$360,000 (US$11,245), and the case would be transferred to prosecutors after the owners failed to comply with authorities and attempted to evade investigation, it added.

The vendors failed to disclose to investigators that the spring rolls contained eggs and meat, and had not purchased product liability insurance, it said.

The case came to light after one patient posted on social media that their family of six visited the stall on Saturday, and within four hours began experiencing stomach aches, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

The six went to the emergency room at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital early yesterday morning.

The department said it sent personnel to investigate yesterday morning and ordered the stall to suspend operations for seven days pending inspection.

Samples were collected from the food items, kitchenware, patients and staff to determine the source of infection, the department said.

If the stall is found to have contravened articles 8 and 44 of the Food Safety and Sanitation Act (食品安全衛生管理法), it may be liable for a fine of between NT$60,000 and NT$200 million, it added.

Those who can prove with medical documentation that they sought medical treatment due to food poisoning may seek compensation for damages, including medical expenses, lost income and emotional distress, it said.

Consumers may also file a complaint with the city government by calling 1950 from any phone within Kaohsiung, it added.

Additional reporting by CNA