TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The final batch of test results from Polam Kopitiam have been released, with Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Victor Wang stating on Sunday (April 14) that no Burkholderia gladioli bacteria were found in environmental samples taken from the homes of the restaurant's chefs.
According to information provided by the prosecution, the Vietnamese chef at the Xinyi branch of Polam Kopitiam and the chef at the Raohe branch have a good relationship. The Health and Welfare Ministry collected environmental samples from two other locations related to this chef on April 4, including 15 samples from the Raohe chef's residence in Nangang and 12 samples from the Vietnamese chef's residence in Keelung. None of the 27 samples tested positive for Burkholderia gladioli.
Wang stated that this case is not a cold case. The responsibility of the Health and Welfare Ministry is to test and cultivate evidence for the prosecution. Whether it becomes a cold case depends on interpretation.
The case is a clear instance of Bongkrekic acid food poisoning. Wang said that this type of bacteria is rare in Taiwan and may not be cultivated. He added that both the restaurant and the chefs' homes may have undergone some degree of cleaning, which could have eliminated the bacteria.
In response to the Food and Drug Administration's recent announcement that Bongkrekic acid will be included in routine inspections, Wang said that it is important to define which products are high-risk for Bongkrekic acid and when they should be tested. He also recommended considering 'bacterial cultivation' in these assessments.
According to statistics from the Health and Welfare Ministry, there have been 34 reported cases related to Polam Kopitiam, including two deaths, four people in intensive care, three in general wards, and 25 who have returned home for recuperation.
Wang said that the four patients in intensive care are all awake, with one recently undergoing a liver transplant. The other three are still being evaluated, but due to liver failure, they cannot yet be transferred out of intensive care.