As misguided calls for Aussie-only produce bear fruit, up to164 delegates from across Queensland attending a school principals’ conference at Brisbane’s Convention and Exhibition Centre have been sickened, possibly with Salmonella.

Check the egg-based dishes (a table of Australian egg-based Salmonella outbreaks is available here).

Twenty-two people so ill they had to be admitted to hospital.

Queensland Health last night confirmed it had launched an investigation.

The Courier-Mail reports that blood tests of one patient indicated salmonella poisoning.

Queensland Teachers Union president Kevin Bates said last night delegates had suffered severe illness.

“The symptoms have been described as vomiting, nausea and severe dehydration,” Mr Bates said.

One sick principal questioned food handling standards.

“All the hot food – curry and rice and so on – was in pretty white bowls without heating. Not a bain-marie in sight,” the principal said.

Queensland Secondary  Principals’ Association president Andrew Pierpoint said an email was sent to principals yesterday urging them to contact a doctor if they felt ill.

Queensland Health communicable diseases director Dr Sonya Bennett said the education department had contacted the health office on Sunday afternoon to raise concerns about the number of conference attendees who had fallen ill.

The Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre did not return calls yesterday.