How much food poisoning is deliberate?

Not deliberately dumb, or deliberately daft, but deliberate with intent for death – or at least dysentery.

Sweden’s security service Säpo is investigating possible sabotage following an incident which left 140 people at the headquarters of Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (Svenskt Näringsliv) suffering from dysentery.

The victims, which included employees of the association, its members, and other guests, all suffered from the illness caused by the Shigella dysenteriae bacteria after eating in the office’s cafeteria several weeks ago, reports the Veckans Affärer magazine.

According to the Metro newspaper, the group claiming responsibility for the attack is a left-leaning, internet-based forum which had previously staged demonstrations outside of the association’s headquarters.

In Texas, an IHOP restaurant has been closed three times in the past five months for repeated occurrences of what health investigators call a rare Salmonella, type C; over 10 people have been sickened.

Group C is a strain that researchers and health officials hardly ever see and it’s so powerful it clings to surfaces and is more resistant to disinfection.

Police have been called in to help with the investigation.
 

Jesse Jackson released from hospital after food poisoning

The Associated Press is reporting that 66-year-old civil rights leader Jesse Jackson was released from a Chicago hospital late Friday morning after developing food poisoning while conducting voter registration activities in Ohio and Georgia on Wednesday.

Jackson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from his bedside yesterday that he had not been able to pin down where he became ill.

“Two days ago I began to feel stomach anxiety and pain and by yesterday it was very intense,” he said.

Britain’s Rimmer qualified for 800m despite food poisoning at Olympics

The Press Association reports that Michael Rimmer overcame a bout of food poisoning to book his place in the semi-finals of the 800 metres at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Rimmer said,

"I felt quite rough. I think it was a mix between the food poisoning and nerves. I am over it but I felt a little flat out there. The thought of going out in a heat is horrible. I want to feel the plane ticket was worth the money and show I am worthy of being here."