TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Nineteen people have sought medical treatment for suspected food poisoning after dining at a buffet in a Taipei mall. 

The incident occurred at the buffet restaurant Inparadise in the Breeze Xinyi mall, per CNA. Taipei City Department of Health said on Tuesday it had received hospital reports of nine people who experienced vomiting and diarrhea after eating at the restaurant on Sunday and Monday. The restaurant was immediately shut down for an investigation.

One customer left a review of the Inparadise Breeze Xinyi branch on Google Maps, saying the family had lunch at the restaurant on Sunday and began vomiting around 2 p.m. They visited a clinic and received injections but the symptoms persisted until they sought emergency treatment at a hospital the next day.

Another diner said their family had afternoon tea at the restaurant on Sunday and experienced severe vomiting and diarrhea on Monday. Another customer on Sunday said that four out of six people in their group experienced gastrointestinal problems and had a fever.

Lin Kuan-chen (林冠蓁), director of the Food and Pharmaceutical Management Division at Taipei's health department, said that as of noon Wednesday, the number of people reported by the hospital to be sick after eating at Inparadise Xinyi branch had risen to 19, per CNA. Most dined at the restaurant on Sunday, while some ate there on Monday, and the food items in common included sashimi, oysters, and scallops. 

Lin said the restaurant was ordered on Tuesday afternoon to suspend operations. However, Lin said health inspectors found the restaurant was still operating when they arrived that evening. 

Therefore, after completing the investigation process, Lin said the department would issue a formal administrative penalty notice to the eatery. Given the widespread impact of the incident, Lin said the restaurant would be handed the maximum fine of NT$3 million (US$91,000) under Article 47, Clause 13 of the Food Safety and Sanitation Act (食品安全衛生管理法).

When health inspectors arrived on Wednesday, the sashimi, oysters, and scallops consumed by the affected diners were no longer present. Instead, samples were collected for analysis and compared with those from the sick customers. 

If the substance is the same, the restaurant could face fines ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$200 million under Article 15 of the Food Safety and Sanitation Act.

To resume operations, the restaurant must complete four hours of food safety training for its staff and implement necessary corrective measures. It must then apply for reopening and pass a reinspection.

Lin said inspections conducted under The Regulations on Good Hygiene Practice for Food (食品良好衛生規範準則) revealed issues such as uncovered food in refrigerators and unclean walls. The restaurant has been ordered to address these deficiencies by Friday.