Up to 12 people sought medical attention after eating at a Markham restaurant last weekend and four people remain in intensive care.
York Region Medical Officer of Health Dr. Barry Pakes shared new details with CP24 Tuesday morning about the mass poisoning at Delight Restaurant & BBQ, located at Castlemore Avenue and Markham Road.
“We suspect it was something called aconite, which is a toxin that can be found in various herbs or roots, or in particular a flower,” Pakes said, adding that tests are currently being done to confirm his theory. .
The region’s top doctor said the toxin can be “accidentally mixed with other things or intentionally” but that there is no reason at this time to believe the suspected poisoning was intentional.
Aconite has the potential to be fatal and can cause diarrhea, convulsions, or arrhythmias.
Dr Barry Pakes, Medical Officer of Health for York Region, speaks on CP24 on Tuesday 30 August 2022.
Pakes could not comment on the condition of the patients currently in intensive care, other than to say that they are “still quite sick” and that “anyone who goes into the ICU is in a pretty life-threatening condition.”
He said the “good news” is that these patients appear to be “getting better” after their admission to hospital.
Delight Restaurant & BBQ is now closed and anyone who ate any food from the restaurant, including dine-in, takeout or delivery, on August 27 or 28 and has symptoms is encouraged to seek medical care. .
Delight Restaurant & BBQ on Markham Rd. can be seen above.
Officials say the restaurant is cooperating with the investigation. Records show the restaurant passed a health inspection in May.
Pakes added that the poisoning appears “similar” to other recent events, including an incident in Burnaby, BC earlier this year that saw two people attend hospital with heart irregularities after buying sand of ginger powder from a local mall.
In a statement to CTV News Toronto, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino’s office said they were aware of the “troubling” situation in Markham.
“We will continue to monitor for further details provided by local police, York Regional Police as well as regional health authorities as the situation develops,” the statement said.