Food poisoning hit an elementary school in Beihai City of southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Wednesday, sickening 78 students, according to the local government.

A spokesman from Beihai city government said 33 of the students were in hospital in stable condition, while the others being closely observed in school.

Dozens of students, mostly from the first, second and third grades at the city's No. 10 Primary School of Haicheng District reported stomach upsets and vomiting after their breakfast.

Preliminary tests by local specialists showed the soya milk and cakes might have been the cause of the mass food poisoning.

It was China's fourth case of food poisoning in schools this month with one killed and 85 students sickened in the previous two food poisonings in November.

(China Daily November 27, 2003)