Forty-three people sickened in a suspected food poisoning incident left hospitals in Zhejiang Province on Tuesday as their situation improved.

The other 17 patients, who were kept under medical observation, may leave hospital Wednesday, doctors said, adding that they were all in a stable condition.

The 70, all employees of the Zhongmao Plastic Industrial Co. Ltd. in Jiaxing City, suffered vomiting, limb numbness and other symptoms after lunch Monday.

The ill people ate a kind of braised pork at lunch, which might be the cause, officials said.

An investigation team comprising officials from the local disease control and sanitary supervision authorities were trying to ascertain the cause and people responsible for the incident.

Food samples, pork used to cook the dish, and urine samples of some pigs were being tested. The results would be announced in two or three days, according to the Jiaxing Food and Drug Administration.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2008)