Children hospitalised from contaminated food in UAE schools

Thirty children across the Abu Dhabi city of al-Ain were taken ill on Thursday after contracting food poisoning after consuming food provided by their schools, the UAE’s ministry of education said.

The children from two separate schools complained of being sick during their lunch breaks. They were taken to hospitals and clinics for treatment after teachers suspected that they contracted food poisoning.

The father of an eight-year-old boy who contracted the illness posted pictures of his child being treated at a hospital on social media, accusing the school’s “contaminated” food of making him sick.

The Emirati ministry of education announced that it had suspended the canteen food supplier to the schools.

The two schools informed parents of the rest of the students, urging them to take their children to hospital if they experience symptoms of food poisoning.

Separately, Emirates airlines announced earlier this week that 10 passengers were taken ill on a 14-hour flight from Dubai to New York, where the aircraft was met by US health authorities.

US media on Wednesday showed images of the double decker A380 aircraft isolated on the tarmac at John F. Kennedy International Airport. US media initially reported that 100 passengers had been taken ill and that the jet had been quarantined.

"Emirates can confirm that about 10 passengers on EK203 from Dubai to New York were taken ill. On arrival, as a precaution, they were attended to by local health authorities," the airline announced.