Three pupils collapse at Crossmoor Secondary after eating chips and sweets ‘laced with drugs’

THREE pupils from Crossmoor Secondary School were rushed to hospital after collapsing from suspected food poisoning linked to snacks bought outside the school.

They had eaten the chips and sweets allegedly laced with drugs, during the lunchbreak.

The incident has sparked concern about drug infused food and treats, which are brought into schools by pupils in their lunch boxes.

The three pupils, two in Grade 10 and one in Grade 8, were unconscious when paramedics arrived at the school  around midday today.

Claude Subramodey, spokesperson for Amawele Emergency Services, said when they got to the scene, one of the girls was being treated for food poisoning. As she was being treated, he said two more girls collapsed.

“They slipped in and out of consciousness and vomited. We stabilised them before transporting them to hospital.

“We were told that the girls had eaten some chips and sweets that caused them to become ill.

“It was established that the girls had bought the chips and sweets from outside of the school and consumed it during their lunch break. The school will investigate further,” said Subramodey.

Kishore Hambapersad, PRO of the Crossmoor Community Policing Forum (CPF) said there was initial speculation that the children consumed items bought from the school tuckshop, but after investigations, they found that the items were purchased from outside the school.

“The children were stabilised and taken to hospital. Their parents were contacted. Preliminary investigations by the school have confirmed that the children ate snacks which was brought from outside the school.

“There is a high number of incidents where food or treats which have been infused with drugs are brought into schools. 

“This happens in schools in and around Chatsworth, and it is a growing concern. Children are buying cakes, muffins, sweets, gummies and lollipops which are infused with drugs and this is difficult for schools to detect.

“When pupils have symptoms of food poisoning, we recommend that parents have the child tested for drugs to eliminate the factor of drugs, and confirm if it is food poisoning.

“But in most cases, parents are in denial of the fact that children will delve in drugs so they do not want to take the children for testing,” he added.

Hambapersad said the CPF and the school were monitoring the progress of the pupils.

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