Food poisoning struck down 64 primary school students in Qingshan Primary School in Diaoguan Town in Shishou City, central China's Hubei Province, on Wednesday.

The students have been rushed to a town hospital after showing symptoms such as dizziness, nausea or vomiting. Three in serious condition have been transferred to the municipal hospital.

The students are out of life-threatening danger, according to sources with the municipal hospital.

The village school has over 300 students and requires all students to have three dinners at school.

The students had noodles and pickled vegetables Wednesday morning. Some reported to the teachers the pickled vegetables tasted a little stinky, but this didn't arouse much attention from the teachers, said Wang Bo, a student.

After finishing the breakfast, some felt stomachache, limply and headache, Wang said.

After the accident, many parents vented their dissatisfaction over the rule that students should have three meals at school.

One grandmother of a sickened student said, she had cooked fish at home Wednesday, but the school prevented her from sending the fish to her grandson at school.

Further investigation is still under way.

Source: Xinhua