Po Lin Teahouse Poisoning Incident

Po Lin Catering was founded by a Malaysian national named Barney (Li Fangxuan). Originally a café, the business transformed into a vegetarian Malaysian cuisine restaurant in January 2021. At the time of the incident, the company operated five branches. The poisoning case occurred at the Po Lin Teahouse located in the Far Eastern Xinyi A13 branch (whose lease expired on March 31). Another branch at No. 42 Raohe Street, Songshan District, reported suspected cases, but no toxins were detected during follow-up investigations. It was also reported that Li had a poor financial history with previous debts during his business career.{{Cite web |title=【寶林茶室中毒】老闆黎仿軒背景起底 因一場夢開始吃素、疫情後轉戰餐飲業 |trans-title=[Poisoning at Baolin Tea House] The background of the owner Lai Fangxuan was revealed: He became a vegetarian because of a dream and switched to the catering industry after the epidemic |url=https://www.upmedia.mg/news_info.php?Type=5&SerialNo=198183 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.upmedia.mg}}

On March 22, 2024, a 39-year-old male customer surnamed Lü ate vegetarian fried kway teow at Po Lin Teahouse. After returning home, he gradually developed symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and heart palpitations. On the 23rd, he sought treatment at the Sanchong branch of New Taipei City United Hospital, where he was given an injection of the anti-inflammatory drug Ketorolac and the antiemetic Metoclopramide. His symptoms initially improved, but his condition suddenly worsened after returning home and he was rushed to Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei in the early morning of the 24th, where he was pronounced dead. The second fatality was a 66-year-old male customer from New Taipei City, surnamed Yang. He also consumed fried kway teow and developed severe diarrhea and chest tightness, eventually dying from multiple organ failure despite emergency medical care.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-27 |title=寶林茶室66歲男用餐一週後不治！愛女淚喊：父親不能死得不明不白 |trans-title=A 66-year-old man died a week after eating at Baolin Tea House! His beloved daughter cried: My father cannot die in such an unclear way |url=https://www.nownews.com/news/6392458?srsltid=AfmBOooJB7_tpb8hOgxGjgcsUV1CXFVP0eZOrbwuO5ThMQUS9pSdu6_P |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=NOWnews今日新聞 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

On the 26th of the same month, Mackay Memorial Hospital reported that a customer who had dined at the restaurant on the 19th developed symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. On the 21st, they went to the emergency room and were transferred to the intensive care unit due to liver failure. Later, Taipei Medical University Hospital also reported a customer who had been admitted to the ICU and was receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Several more medical institutions subsequently reported food poisoning cases among Po Lin Teahouse diners, totaling more than ten cases.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=【寶林食安風暴】馬偕女病患肝腎衰竭 姊要「捐肝救妹」 |trans-title=[Baolin Food Safety Storm] A female patient from Mackay Hospital suffers from liver and kidney failure, her sister wants to "donate her liver to save her sister" |url=https://www.taisounds.com/news/content/92/116836 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=太報 TaiSounds |language=zh-Hant-TW}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-04-12 |title=寶林中毒解謎！神人兩小時破解「邦克列酸」 竟是護理師耳尖幫大忙 |trans-title=Baolin poisoning mystery solved! A genius solved the "Bunkelic acid" in two hours. It turned out that the nurse's sharp ears helped a lot. |url=https://www.ettoday.net/news/20240412/2718442.htm |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.ettoday.net |language=zh-Hant}}

On April 5, four critically ill patients were being treated in the intensive care units of Taipei Medical University Hospital, Mackay Memorial Hospital, and the Tri-Service General Hospital. By that date, two of the patients had regained consciousness, and the one on ECMO was gradually improving, with removal of the device under evaluation. Another patient remained in a coma.{{Cite news |last= |date=2024-04-05 |title=血漿置換多次！寶林案4重症好消息 2人恢復意識 1人可望摘葉克膜 |trans-title=Plasma replacement multiple times! Good news for the 4 critically ill patients in the Baolin case: 2 have regained consciousness and 1 is expected to have ECMO removed |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/4631839 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250206191719/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/4631839 |archive-date=2025-02-06 |access-date=2025-05-19 |work=自由時報電子報 |language=zh-TW}}

On April 15, the Centers for Disease Control’s official website section on the Po Lin Teahouse food poisoning case reported that all three patients who had been in general hospital wards had returned home for recovery. On April 23, the data was updated to reflect that the number of people recovering at home had been revised from 28 to 29.

On the morning of March 27, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office officially announced the launch of a formal investigation into the case. Prosecutors, together with police and relevant agencies, collected evidence at the restaurant site. Meanwhile, the New Taipei City Health Bureau and the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Food and Drug Administration began inspecting the food ingredients supplied to the restaurant. The Ministry of Health and Welfare also urgently ordered standard samples of bongkrekic acid from abroad for testing purposes. On the same day, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an ordered all Po Lin Teahouse branches in Taipei to shut down. The Taipei City Government Health Bureau then enforced a full suspension of operations and food service at all Po Lin locations based on the “Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.”{{Cite web |title=臺北地檢署偵辦寶 茶室餐廳案件之說明 |trans-title=Taipei District Prosecutors Office Detective Bao○ Tea House Restaurant Case Explanation |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403041520/https://www.tpc.moj.gov.tw/media/353642/1130327%E8%87%BA%E5%8C%97%E5%9C%B0%E6%AA%A2%E7%BD%B2%E5%81%B5%E8%BE%A6%E5%AF%B6o%E7%B4%A0%E9%A3%9F%E9%A4%90%E5%BB%B3%E6%A1%88%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E7%A8%BF.pdf}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-28 |title=臺北市政府衛生局持續追蹤寶林茶室疑似食品中毒案 |trans-title=Taipei City Government Health Bureau continues to track suspected food poisoning case at Baolin Tea House |url=https://health.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=BB5A41BA1E6CA260&sms=72544237BBE4C5F6&s=9EE2C4A4B9B1D257 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=臺北市政府衛生局 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

On March 28, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, via import records, found that Changhua Christian Hospital already had a stock of bongkrekic acid standards for use in its toxicology lab. Upon contacting the hospital, it agreed to provide the samples free of charge, significantly accelerating the investigation. Later, the Taipei and Shilin District Prosecutors Offices, accompanied by a judge, conducted autopsies at Banqiao Funeral Parlor in New Taipei City and sent samples to the National Taiwan University’s Institute of Forensic Medicine. The final analysis returned a positive result for bongkrekic acid. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) was also asked to assist in analyzing food and environmental samples to identify the source of the bacteria.{{Cite news |last= |date=2024-03-29 |title=彰基擁全台唯一「標準品」 讓寶林案禍首「米酵菌酸」提早曝光 |trans-title=Chang Foundation Hospital owns the only "standard product" in Taiwan, which allowed the "fumonisin" at the root of the Baolin case to be exposed early |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/amp/news/life/breakingnews/4623183 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250120182632/https://news.ltn.com.tw/amp/news/life/breakingnews/4623183 |archive-date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2025-05-19 |work=自由時報電子報 |language=zh-TW}}

That same morning, prosecutors from the Taipei District Prosecutors Office again convened a special meeting with the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Taipei City Criminal Police Corps, and the Xinyi Precinct to assign tasks, such as interviewing victims, analyzing surveillance footage from the branches, and organizing seized materials. It was decided to summon the chef for questioning. That evening, a chef surnamed Hu appeared at the Xinyi Police Precinct for interrogation. After being questioned, he was transferred late at night to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for further questioning and was released without bail in the early morning of the 29th. That afternoon, the prosecution summoned the restaurant’s owner, Lai Fang-hsuan, a manager surnamed Wang, and a head chef surnamed Chou as defendants. After questioning, all three were released without bail. Chou, who had just returned to Taiwan from Malaysia, was also listed as a defendant and placed under a travel ban.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-29 |title=寶林茶室釀2死5命危！創辦人等3人列被告 胡姓代班廚師無保請回 |trans-title=Baolin Tea House brews 2 dead and 5 in critical condition! Founder and 3 others named as defendants, substitute chef surnamed Hu is released without bail |url=https://www.ctwant.com/article/327035/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.ctwant.com |language=zh-Hant-TW}}On March 29, autopsies on two deceased victims confirmed the presence of bongkrekic acid. As of March 31, a total of 12 diners tested positive for bongkrekic acid.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-29 |title=寶林茶室中毒案 第2名死者解剖也驗出米酵菌酸 |trans-title=寶林茶室中毒案 第2名死者解剖也驗出米酵菌酸 |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202403290130.aspx |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=中央社 CNA |language=zh-Hant-TW}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-31 |title=寶林案4重症腦病變 1裝葉克膜 增4人驗出米酵菌酸 |trans-title=Baolin case: 4 people with severe encephalopathy, 1 was equipped with ECMO, 4 more people tested positive for fumonisin |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20240331002126-260405?chdtv |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=中時新聞網 |language=zh-TW}}

On April 1, it was announced that test results from two suspected cases at the Po Lin Café Raohe branch were negative, and these were removed from the official tally of bongkrekic acid poisoning cases.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-10 |title=寶林茶室案北市案例減至19例 記者會提前召開原因曝 |trans-title=Baolin Tea House case: Taipei City cases reduced to 19, reason for press conference held early revealed |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410233631/https://udn.com/news/story/123988/7871568 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=web.archive.org}}

On the morning of April 2, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an stated at a press conference that biological and environmental samples collected on March 24 from the Po Lin Teahouse at Far Eastern Xinyi A13 tested positive for bongkrekic acid on April 1. The toxic substance was found on two knives, a cutting board, and biological traces from the chef’s hand. However, on April 7, the CDC clarified that only the chef’s hand and stool samples tested positive.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-16 |title=寶林重大突破！廚師手、刀具、砧板等跡證採檢 驗出「這處」有米酵菌酸 |trans-title=Baolin's major breakthrough! Chef's hands, knives, cutting boards and other evidence were tested and found to contain fumonisin |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416174347/https://udn.com/news/story/7321/7871748 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=web.archive.org}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-01 |title=寶林茶室中毒案 美食街有投保.上懸賠4千萬 |trans-title=Baolin Tea House poisoning case: Food court is insured. Claims of NT$40 million |url=https://news.pts.org.tw/article/688217 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=公視新聞網 PNN |language=zh-Hant}}

By the afternoon of April 7, at 5:30 p.m., a total of 34 cases had been reported. Of these, 33 cases from March 19 to 24 tested positive for bongkrekic acid. One case, involving a 39-year-old woman who dined on March 18 and was reported on April 6, tested negative.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-04-07 |title=廚師手部菜刀等4檢體 未培養出唐菖蒲伯克氏菌 |trans-title=Four samples, including the kitchen knife in the chef's hand, did not culture Burkholderia gladioli |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202404070188.aspx |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=中央社 CNA |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

Additionally, on April 1, four environmental samples collected by Taipei City (a fruit knife, a vegetable knife, a cutting board from the Po Lin Teahouse kitchen, and the chef’s hand) showed only the chef’s hand sample as positive for bongkrekic acid. The rest were negative. None of the four samples, including the chef’s hand trace, successfully cultured Burkholderia gladioli. The substitute chef's hand and stool samples both tested weakly positive, while the blood test returned negative. Whether this indicates a possible asymptomatic human carrier state remains under further investigation.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-04-07 |title=寶林廚師手部陽性但「養不出細菌」 王必勝：一則以喜一則以憂 |trans-title=Baolin chef's hands tested positive but "did not breed bacteria" Wang Bisheng: one is happy, the other is worrying |url=https://www.ettoday.net/news/20240407/2714984.htm |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.ettoday.net |language=zh-Hant}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-18 |title=寶林茶室案廚師遭疑「傷寒瑪麗」翻版 毒物科權威說話了 |trans-title=The chef in the Baolin Tea House case was suspected of being a copy of "Typhoid Mary". The Toxicology Department has spoken out |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418133216/https://udn.com/news/story/7314/7882589 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=web.archive.org}}

In January 2025, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office completed its investigation into five individuals involved in the Po Lin Teahouse poisoning case and formally indicted them for violations of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation as well as for causing injury and death by negligence under the Criminal Code. The indicted included the actual person in charge, Lai Fang-hsuan; store manager Wang Shun-de; a Vietnamese substitute chef named Hu Qingfu; and two other individuals involved in the case. The investigation report indicated that the poisoning incident was linked to improper food handling by the restaurant. A suspected contamination by Burkholderia gladioli was identified as the source of the toxic compound bongkrekic acid. However, due to the difficulty in cultivating this bacterium under laboratory conditions from environmental samples, the exact infection route could not be definitively established.{{Cite web |last= |date=2025-01-21 |title=寶林茶室毒食奪6命24傷 負責人+廚師+實習生共5人3罪起訴 |trans-title=Po Lin Tea House poisoned food, killing 6 and injuring 24; 5 people including the manager, chef and intern were charged with 3 crimes |url=https://www.ettoday.net/news/20250121/2896352.htm |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.ettoday.net |language=zh-Hant}}

By March 30, 2024, a total of 11 counties and cities in Taiwan had suspended the use of products such as kway teow and ban tiao (types of rice noodles) in elementary and middle school lunch programs. Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Taoyuan City continued regular supply but mandated strict inspection and quality control of related ingredients at all school levels.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CasvPs26g3c |title=再增6例! 沒吃粿條也不適 醫:比電影離奇 有可能下毒｜TVBS新聞 @TVBSNEWS01 |date=2024-03-29 |last=TVBS NEWS |access-date=2025-05-19 |via=YouTube}}

Prior to this incident, bongkrekic acid had no specific translation in Taiwan. Initially, both official agencies and the media used the Chinese mainland translation “米酵菌酸.” After the incident, public panic led to a significant drop in the sales of rice-based products in Taiwan. On March 29, the Agriculture and Food Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture stated that "bongkrekic acid" was simply the Chinese translation of the English term “Bongkrekic Acid” and had no direct association with pure rice products. Moreover, the kway teow or rice noodles used by Po Lin Teahouse were not made solely from rice. To avoid stigmatizing rice products, the translation of bongkrekic acid in Taiwan was officially changed to “邦克列酸.”{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-30 |title=致命「米酵菌酸」譯名被誤會與米有關！學者建議改名為椰黍菌酸 |trans-title=The deadly "rice fermented acid" was mistakenly translated as rice! Scholars suggest changing the name to cocofumic acid |url=https://www.ettoday.net/news/20240330/2710199.htm |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.ettoday.net |language=zh-Hant}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-04-03 |title=米酵菌酸改名邦克列酸避免米製品污名化 衛福部擬預防指引 |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202404030331.aspx |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=中央社 CNA |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that, in the past, Burkholderia gladioli had indeed been detected in decayed king oyster mushrooms and pineapples with Diaporthe-induced rot. However, these strains were not of the coconut toxin subtype, which produces bongkrekic acid. This specific subtype had never been recorded locally, nor had it ever been detected in Taiwanese soil, suggesting that it does not naturally exist in Taiwan. Academia Sinica academician Ho Mei-hsiang also noted that three samples of this bacterium had previously been found in food samples from Guangzhou, China.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-03 |title=米酵菌在台灣曾於「兩食物」出現過！ 專家：中毒後主要攻擊肝臟、大腦和腎臟 |trans-title=Rice yeast has appeared in "two foods" in Taiwan! Experts: After poisoning, it mainly attacks the liver, brain and kidneys |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403100403/https://udn.com/news/story/123988/7861623 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=web.archive.org}}{{Cite web |date=2024-03-29 |title=何美鄉指出米酵菌酸可能來自中國 ! 吳欣岱 : 多注意對岸 |trans-title=He Meixiang pointed out that fumonisin may come from China! Wu Xindai: Pay more attention to the other side |url=https://newtalk.tw/news/view/2024-03-29/914087 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Newtalk新聞 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-30 |title=憂米酵菌酸落地生根！農業部：我土壤沒有致病亞型、國產食材安全 |trans-title=Worry about rice fermentation acid taking root! Ministry of Agriculture: Our soil does not contain pathogenic subtypes, domestically produced food is safe |url=https://www.nownews.com/news/6394718 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=NOWnews今日新聞 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

On April 3, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that, similar to compulsory automobile insurance, it would collaborate with the Ministry of Finance and property insurance companies to require food businesses to proactively register liability insurance information. The system was expected to launch in May.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-12 |title=寶林案燒出食安漏洞 食藥署5月起強制產品責任險登錄 |trans-title=Baolin case exposes food safety loopholes; FDA to require product liability insurance registration from May |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412203313/https://udn.com/news/story/7321/7874965 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=web.archive.org}}

On March 30, Far Eastern Department Stores and the Food Republic issued a joint announcement: “Customers who dined at the Po Lin Teahouse Xinyi Branch between March 17 and 25 may bring their receipt and identification to Far Eastern Xinyi A13 starting March 31 to receive a cash refund.”{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-30 |title=遠百大食代：3月17至25日寶林茶室信義店用餐可退款 |trans-title=Far Eastern Department Store: Refunds for meals at Baolin Tea House Xinyi store from March 17 to 25 |url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202403300201.aspx |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=中央社 CNA |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

On March 29, 2024, the Taipei City Government’s Department of Legal Affairs requested that Cathay Century Insurance urgently convene a meeting to determine whether the commercial insurance policy purchased by Far Eastern Department Stores was applicable to this case. The Legal Affairs Department attended the meeting as an observer. After the meeting, Cathay Century Insurance concluded that the case met the criteria for claims under the public liability section of the commercial insurance policy and included Po Lin Teahouse as an additional insured party.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-07 |title=寶林茶室食物中毒案受害者百貨保險會賠 加護病房1人腦病變 |trans-title=Department store insurance will compensate victims of Po Lam Tea House food poisoning case; one person in intensive care unit suffers from brain disease |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407221127/https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202403290173.aspx |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=web.archive.org}}

On December 31, 2024, the Taipei City Government approved an amendment to the "Taipei City Mandatory Public Liability Insurance Measures for Consumer Venues,” expanding the requirement for public liability insurance to include any dining venues open to the general public (excluding bars). The minimum venue size for mandatory insurance was lowered from 300 square meters to 150 square meters, and coverage for food poisoning was added.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-31 |title=2024最終市政會議 蔣萬安裁示3案通過：敬老津貼增至3000元 |trans-title=2024 Final Municipal Council Meeting Jiang Wanan passed 3 cases: Elderly care allowance increased to NT$3,000 |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/2024%E6%9C%80%E7%B5%82%E5%B8%82%E6%94%BF%E6%9C%83%E8%AD%B0-%E8%94%A3%E8%90%AC%E5%AE%89%E8%A3%81%E7%A4%BA3%E6%A1%88%E9%80%9A%E9%81%8E-%E6%95%AC%E8%80%81%E6%B4%A5%E8%B2%BC%E5%A2%9E%E8%87%B33000%E5%85%83-055205841.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly96aC53aWtpcGVkaWEub3JnLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABhn00nNg38LAM8ul3l5L-BCAbT7ldmEh00WFPNAZIJKk2fk-feA8NyK3ZrtTZrx6Fo64QpzKFnVdNiCWx-n8taVR2QjoU_Y7QT3z_10nvv1yTCWSqE48RplCQGz1XiGb_uJNjELxF4M2a95XtYMsJrWvpr-D0c0zgacB5U6_KKv |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Yahoo News |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

The widow of the first deceased victim, Mr. Lü, was previously reported by the media to be planning legal action against New Taipei City United Hospital Sanchong Branch and Mackay Memorial Hospital Taipei Branch for medical negligence. However, on the 29th, she clarified that she had no such intentions. She explained that she had reported the death on the day it occurred to request an autopsy and had provided a complete account of the medical treatment process to the prosecutor. She also expressed gratitude to the hospitals for doing their best to save her husband’s life.{{Cite news |last= |date=2024-03-27 |title=寶林茶室用餐2天後身亡 三重上班族遺體將二度相驗釐清 |trans-title=The body of a Sanchung office worker who died two days after dining at Baolin Tea House will be identified by a second autopsy |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/NewTaipei/breakingnews/4620692 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250120182621/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/NewTaipei/breakingnews/4620692 |archive-date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2025-05-19 |work=自由時報電子報 |language=zh-TW}}

On March 29, 2024, then Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an explained: “The Department of Health fined Po Lin Teahouse NT$500,000 for failing to truthfully disclose the existence of another branch at the earliest stage, and NT$2,000,000 for lacking insurance coverage.” Additionally, after further investigation, it was found that four other branches under Po Lin had expired product liability insurance policies, resulting in another NT$1,000,000 fine from the Taipei Department of Health. The total administrative fines in this case amounted to NT$3.5 million.{{Cite news |last= |date=2024-03-31 |title=寶林茶室食物中毒案 蔣萬安：包含在遠百保險理賠範圍內，另裁罰寶林250萬 |trans-title=Baolin Tea House Food Poisoning Case Jiang Wanan: Included in the scope of compensation of Far Eastern Department Store, and fined Baolin 250 |url=https://www.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=2044902FC839D045&sms=72544237BBE4C5F6&s=8B122D017EED8008 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250414130229/https://www.gov.taipei/News_Content.aspx?n=2044902FC839D045&sms=72544237BBE4C5F6&s=8B122D017EED8008 |archive-date=2025-04-14 |access-date=2025-05-19 |work=臺北市政府全球資訊網 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

On March 27, 2024, internet celebrity lawyer Lee Yi-chen commented, “I thought this was news from the mainland… I love stir-fried kway teow, seriously? What even caused this?”{{Cite web |date=2024-07-13 |title=素食餐廳爆食物中毒！　她超愛吃「炒粿條」嚇傻：以為對岸新聞 |trans-title=Vegetarian restaurant breaks out with food poisoning! She loves to eat "fried kway teow" so much she was shocked: she thought it was news from the other side of the strait |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713062253/https://www.ctwant.com/article/326532/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=web.archive.org}}

Medical journalist Hung Su-ching wrote on her Facebook page “Hung Su-ching’s Food and Medicine Info Network” that “Lai Fang-hsuan’s claim that vegetarian food is safe just because it's vegetarian is absolutely wrong—pathogens eat both meat and plants.”{{Cite web |last=林姸君 |date=2024-03-27 |title=寶林茶室「都素食很安全」？ 洪素卿斥「大錯特錯」：病原菌吃葷也吃素 |trans-title=Baolin Tea House "is safe if it's all vegetarian"? Hong Suqing denounced "completely wrong": pathogens can eat meat and vegetables |url=https://www.ctwant.com/article/326607/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.ctwant.com |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

In an interview with United Daily News, entertainer Hsieh Hsin shared that she had dined at the Po Lin Café Raohe branch on the 20th and posted a photo of her stir-fried kway teow, saying she was still deeply shaken.She also posted on Threads, “Taiwan’s food safety really needs to improve.”{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-27 |title=和男友上周才去吃寶林茶室！謝忻慶幸死裡逃生 |trans-title=I went to Baolin Tea House with my boyfriend last week! Xie Xin is glad to have escaped death |url=https://stars.udn.com/star/story/10089/7859720 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=噓！星聞 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}{{Cite news |last= |date=2024-03-27 |title=寶林鬧出人命！ 謝忻上禮拜才吃粿仔條 身體狀況曝光 |trans-title=Someone died in Baolin! Xie Xin ate Kway Chap Teow last week and her health condition was exposed |url=https://ent.ltn.com.tw/article/breakingnews/4621264 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250120183021/https://ent.ltn.com.tw/article/breakingnews/4621264 |archive-date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2025-05-19 |work=自由時報電子報 |language=zh-TW}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-27 |title=寶林案釀2死3命危 謝忻驚「才在寶林吃粿仔條」 親揭身體狀況 |trans-title=Po Lam case caused 2 deaths and 3 life-threatening cases. Xie Xin was surprised to say "I just ate Kuey Teow in Po Lam" and personally revealed his health condition |url=https://news.cts.com.tw/cts/entertain/202403/202403272303673.html |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=華視新聞網 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

On the same day, friends of one of the deceased praised his academic achievements at National Taiwan University and National Chengchi University, noting that he was a marketing genius courted by multiple companies. They lamented never having had a final meal with him. The family asked that friends keep their memories in their hearts.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-13 |title=台大高材生寶林茶室中毒枉死　友慟：痛失百年難得行銷鬼才 |trans-title=NTU top student died of poisoning in Baolin Tea House; You-Ting: We lost a rare marketing genius |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713062255/https://www.ctwant.com/article/326616 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=web.archive.org}}

On March 28, singer Aaron Yan posted a photo of a Po Lin Teahouse delivery order from August 2023 on his Facebook fan page, stating that although he didn’t order kway teow, he experienced nausea and difficulty breathing the same night after eating. He gradually recovered after two days and offered to share his experience to help with the investigation.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-29 |title=談寶林中毒案被酸蹭熱度趕復出 炎亞綸反擊：反映他們醜惡的一面 |trans-title=Aaron Yan hits back at critics who accused him of using the poisoning case to gain popularity and rush out for a comeback: It reflects their ugly side |url=https://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20240329edi046 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=鏡週刊 Mirror Media |language=zh-Hant}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-29 |title=炎亞綸去年吃寶林呼吸困難 陳沂怒酸：消費悲劇好噁 |trans-title=Aaron Yan had difficulty breathing after taking Bolin last year, Chen Yi angrily said: This consumption tragedy is disgusting |url=https://stars.udn.com/star/story/10091/7865283 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=噓！星聞 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

TV host Chen Yi responded critically, suggesting that Aaron Yan, having recently settled a Me Too case, might be eager to stage a comeback and was opportunistically capitalizing on the food safety incident.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-29 |title=開嗆炎亞綸蹭寶林熱度！陳沂酸「#MeToo後急著復出」：我覺得好噁 |trans-title=Aaron Yan is accused of riding on Pauline Po's popularity! Chen Yi sarcastically says he is "rushing to make a comeback after #MeToo": I find it disgusting |url=https://www.setn.com/news/1446469 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=www.setn.com |language=zh-Hant-TW}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-29 |title=炎亞綸曝去年曾吃寶林「呼吸困難、頭暈噁心」 引陳沂批：擺明就是在蹭 |trans-title=Aaron Yan revealed that he had "difficulty breathing, dizziness and nausea" after taking Bo Lin last year, which led to Chen Yi's criticism: It's obvious that he was just trying to get free rides |url=https://news.cts.com.tw/cts/entertain/202403/202403292304666.html |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=華視新聞網 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}

Entertainer Christine Ouyang also commented that the incident had completely overturned her perception of dining out. “I used to think keywords like department store, vegetarian, cooked food, famous chain, open kitchen equaled food safety. Now I realize that’s not necessarily the case.”{{Cite web |last= |title=寶林中毒「顛覆外食觀念」！歐陽靖列6關鍵嘆：是我也必點炒粿條 |trans-title=Baolin poisoning "overturns the concept of eating out"! Ouyang Jing lists 6 key points and sighs: I must order fried rice noodles too |url=https://news.tvbs.com.tw/entertainment/2440175 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=TVBS |language=zh-tw}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-29 |title=「寶林茶室中毒案」顛覆外食族既定觀念 歐陽靖：行為同等殺人 |trans-title=The "Po Lin Tea House Poisoning Case" overturned the established concept of eating out. Ouyang Jing: The behavior is equivalent to murder. |url=https://www.mirrormedia.mg/story/20240329edi032 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=鏡週刊 Mirror Media |language=zh-Hant}}

On March 31, political commentator Kuo Cheng-liang said on the show Mai Yu-chieh’s Hot Evening Report, “We have to respect science. Wood ear mushrooms are common ingredients. Why haven’t they caused problems in the past? Honestly, I still don’t know what went wrong. Today at lunch, my wife left me a delicious vegetarian dish in the fridge. I opened it and saw it was kway teow—and I didn’t dare eat it.”{{Cite web |last= |title=寶林中毒疑點重重？郭正亮爆「驚人內幕」：大陸也很怕 |trans-title=Baolin's poisoning is full of doubts? Guo Zhengliang reveals the "shocking inside story": Mainland China is also afraid |url=https://news.tvbs.com.tw/politics/2442096 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=TVBS |language=zh-tw}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-03-31 |title=寶林茶室中毒案有疑點？郭正亮把內幕全說了：大陸都怕 |trans-title=Is there any doubt about the poisoning case at Baolin Tea House? Guo Zhengliang tells the whole story: Mainland China is afraid |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20240331003098-260407?chdtv |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=中時新聞網 |language=zh-TW}}

On April 2, financial journalist Hu Cai-xuan commented that the Taipei City Department of Health had initially collected too few samples, which caused the investigation to stall. However, she acknowledged that if the sampling method followed SOP, then the department could not be faulted. She added that the investigation procedures for suspected food poisoning incidents were later revised following an expert meeting.{{Cite web |last= |title=寶林中毒陷僵局！她質疑「帶回樣本太少」 嗆蔣萬安：台北市的路人 |trans-title=Baolin poisoning deadlock! She questioned "too few samples were brought back" and scolded Jiang Wanan: passers-by in Taipei City |url=https://news.tvbs.com.tw/life/2443893 |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=TVBS |language=zh-tw}}

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