Chemical Mix-Up Kills 5 in China Restaurant; 140 Ill
BEIJING — A chemical company in eastern China mistakenly sold a restaurant a lethal chemical compound instead of baking soda, and five diners died of poisoning and 140 others became ill, a newspaper reported Saturday.
The Peasant Daily said the people were poisoned June 23 after a chemical company in Zhejiang province sold a restaurant sodium fluosilicate rather than sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda. Sodium fluosilicate is used in making insecticides and ceramics.
Customers who bought the restaurant’s buns suffered from stomach pains and diarrhea.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
