Health officials are investigating a Toronto-area restaurant they feared served a toxic ingredient that sent some customers to the hospital last weekend. “The Regional Municipality of York is currently investigating reports of several people becoming seriously ill after eating at a restaurant in the town of Markham,” said Dr Barry Pikes, the regional medical officer of health. His statement on Monday added that “at this time, we are unable to confirm the number of people hospitalized or the possible cause of the serious illness.” Some doctors in Toronto, however, fear the restaurant may be the latest food vendor in North America to potentially expose customers to what is known as aconite poisoning. The flowering plant and its root contain toxins that, if consumed, can cause immediate and severe reactions ranging from facial numbness to abnormal heartbeats that can be fatal. Although toxic, aconite is still used in Chinese herbal medicine. But treatment methods usually neutralize its negative effects. Toronto-area hospitals don’t say how many patients they’re admitting or what conditions they’re treating. “Oak Valley Health is unable to confirm any patient information due to our confidentiality obligations,” said Amanda Sexton, spokeswoman for the hospital group in York Region. Dr. David Juurlink, chief of toxicology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, tweeted Monday that hospitals were warned over the weekend to watch for symptoms consistent with aconite poisoning. “I’m hearing reports of a mass poisoning incident involving a Markham restaurant possibly involving aconite,” he said. The restaurant has been closed pending an investigation. Delight Restaurant & BBQ last passed a public health inspection in the spring and is cooperating with the investigation. Staff present at the restaurant Monday did not answer questions from a Globe and Mail reporter. Records show the restaurant was relaunched and renovated a year ago. People who are regulars describe it as a popular local restaurant. “A few days ago we saw a lot of people inside. It’s a neighborhood restaurant,” said Yvonne Wong, who lives nearby. Health officials want customers to get rid of any restaurant food still in their refrigerators and go to a hospital if they have symptoms. “People who had takeout, takeout and delivery. please throw away leftovers or food from the restaurant,” said Dr Pakes. In 2017, public health officials in San Francisco warned that two people were “severely ill and remain hospitalized after drinking herbal tea containing Aconite, a deadly poison.” That statement said the two had bought tea from the same herbalist before each “rapidly developed weakness and then life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms, requiring resuscitation and intensive hospital care.” Public health officials in the Vancouver area reported another case of aconite poisoning involving imported baking powder earlier this year. Delight Restaurant and BBQ’s public health pass.Jake Kivanc/The Globe and Mail “Two people presented to the hospital in early February [2022] with heart abnormalities after consuming the product,” said Fraser Health Authority. BC public health officials issued statements in Chinese and English saying they had seized the powder from stores. The messages added that customers should dispose of the cooking powder. “The roots of the plant, which are very similar to ginger root, contain the toxin aconitine which can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, irregular abdominal contractions and in severe cases death.” Our Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
