Asian Games organizers prevented a potential mass outbreak of food poisoning after salmonella was detected in lunch boxes prepared for athletes, officials said today.

The bacteria was found yesterday in meat included on boxed meals provided by a food caterer.

A spokesman for the organizing committee told AFP that all 76 lunch boxes prepared by the firm were immediately thrown away.

“It is our policy to dump the entire stock even if one sample is found to have been contaminated,” the spokesman said.

“We’ve decided to replace the food catering company with a different one following the unfortunate event,” he added.

The salmonella was detected by South Korean food safety officials who screen all the athletes’ food that is provided by authorized caterers.