Local health authorities said that 39 students hospitalized for food poisoning in a school canteen in southwest Yunnan Province three days ago were discharged from the hospital on Sunday.

These students were among 81 who fell ill after eating under-cooked kidney beans in the facility. The 39 students, suffering from headaches and abdominal pain, were advised to stay in the hospital for observation, while the others were sent home after their symptoms cleared up.

Besides those who fell ill, the food-poisoning outbreak at Zhuyuanzhen Township High School in Fuyuan County sent another 167 students to the hospital to be treated for what was called "mass hysteria."

The contractor of the canteen has been removed.

Kidney beans contain lectin, a toxic agent that can cause diarrhea if the beans aren't cooked thoroughly, health officials said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2007)