Kathmandu, Jan. 26 -- An epidemiological analysis into food poisoning clusters among passengers on two Cathay Pacific Airways flights from Kathmandu to Hong Kong identified beetroot salad as the most likely source of contamination.

The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Hong Kong, released its findings on Friday.

Based on the investigation results, the department "did not rule out that the food poisoning" clusters on flight CX640 were caused by beetroot salad contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus served on board.

The investigation revealed that a total of 43 passengers (22 men and 21 women) on the flights, which arrived in Hong Kong on January 8 and 9, developed symptoms of food poisoning such as vomiting, naus...