Poisoned School Meal Kills Children In Peru

Three schoolchildren in Peru have died after eating food donated as part of a nutrition program that had been contaminated with rat poison.

A total of 89 children and five adults were poisoned after the food was distributed at a school in Redondo, a village 310 miles (498km) from the capital, Lima.

The three dead children are all believed to have been under 10 years old.

Authorities fear the death toll could rise.

The food had been donated by the National Food Assistance Programme, which helps schools in the poorest parts of the country.

Officials said it was contaminated when rice and canned anchovies were put into a container containing rat poison.

Police captain Aurelio Huaman said prosecutors have opened an investigation into the tragedy.

A similar case occurred in 1999 at a Peruvian town near Cuzco, when 24 children died after food was contaminated with pesticide.