Approximately 200 employees of the BYD Company Limited, a car maker in Shanghai, were hospitalized on Thursday with suspected food poisoning.

The employees started to suffer vomiting and nausea at about 2 PM on Thursday and went to Shanghai First People's Hospital. A total of 200 employees were at the hospital by 5 PM and most of them received antibiotic injections. 

Around 50 workers are still receiving treatment but the remainder left the hospital around 8 PM. All patients are out of danger, according to the hospital.

The company says kidney beans are suspected of causing the illness but the hospital hasn't confirmed this. The local food safety watchdog is investigating the incident.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2007)