SEOUL, June 24 (UPI) -- South Korea has ordered its largest institutional food supplier to halt distribution after 1,700 students became sick.
The outbreak of apparent food-borne illness affected 25 schools, Korea Times reported. The students, who complained of stomachaches, had all eaten a lunch from CJ Food, the newspaper said.
The government plans to inspect 10,000 school cafeterias and to form a task force to monitor suppliers of meals to institutions.
"The government is trying to find out what has triggered the incident and will take action against those responsible by revoking business licenses and filing criminal charges," Information Minister Kim Chang-ho said.
The suspension of CJ Food affected 80,000 students at 93 schools. Some schools have asked students to bring lunches from home, others shortened the school day and administrators were scrambling to find other suppliers.
