BLAME it on the Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacterium, which is commonly associated with seafood consumption.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and National Environment Agency (NEA) identified the cause of the mass food-poisoning incident at Geylang Serai Temporary Market, which saw more than 150 people falling ill after eating Indian rojak from the Rojak Geylang Serai stall.

Two women also died.

Laboratory investigation showed that 13 of the cases, including the first woman who died, tested positive for the bacterium.

In a joint statement last night, MOH and NEA identified the bacterium and traced it to the cross-contamination of rojak and raw seafood ingredients.

No food remnants were available for microbiological testing and the exact steps leading to contamination of the rojak food items or gravy are still unclear.

But the MOH and NEA suggested that "insights" could be drawn from a similar food-poisoning incident in 1983.

At that time, 34 people fell ill - also after eating at a Geylang Serai Indian-rojak stall.

Then, contamination came about after drippings from raw cuttlefish fell into the rojak gravy, which was in uncovered containers on the lower shelves of a refrigerator.

"The food was prepared on unlicensed premises at Joo Chiat, where abundant drippings from raw cuttlefish were found to have contaminated the rojak gravy in uncovered containers on the lower shelves of a refrigerator," the statement said.

In the present case - believed to be the worst food-poisoning incident here - no food remnants were available for testing because the rojak items and gravy were discarded as soon as customers complained.

"Nonetheless, MOH and NEA investigators detected some lapses in food and environmental hygiene," the statement said.

For now, the licence of the Indian rojak stall will be suspended and the licensee will be taken to court.

"The NEA will be taking action against the licensee under the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations," the statement said.

It added that deaths associated with the bacterium are rare.

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