Food poisoning has sickened 206 NATO soldiers who ate in a German army canteen at Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, defence authorities in Berlin said Thursday.

They said the 138 Germans and 68 military from other nations quickly had quickly recovered from the symptoms and overall fighting strength was not affected.

All had eaten Wednesday at the canteen in the ISAF regional headquarters in Mazar-i-Sharif. The kitchen was disinfected and preparation of meals resumed there on Thursday. Army scientists were still hunting for the source of the infection.