Vetsin mixed in rice downs 3-year old boy
BACOLOD CITY – A 3-year-old boy was confined at a hospital here and is in critical condition after he and his sister had used monosodium glutamate (MSG) or "vetsin" as viand for their lunch in Sagay City, Negros Occidental Monday.
Wilfredo Labajo Jr. fell ill and was brought to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, two days after he ate rice mixed with vetsin at their home in Brgy. Bato, Sagay, Monday, his father, Wilfredo Sr., said.
The boy and his sister, Jerelyn, 9, had apparently put MSG into their plain corn rice that served as their lunch because the family could not afford regular rice or any proper viand, the father said.
Labajo, an "iced buko (iced candy)" vendor, said he and his wife, Jenelyn, had prepared the rice for their children before leaving them to their neighbors after they went out to sell iced buko and iced candy.
The older Labajo said that the children had earlier mixed the rice with some sugar but they ran out of the sweetener so they used the vetsin.
The boy, who was first brought to the Alfredo Marañon District Hospital in Sagay Monday, and was later transferred to CLMMRH, is still writhing in pain, the father said.
Two weeks ago, Wilfredo Jr. had been bitten by a dog and this may have complicated his condition, he said.
Wilfredo Sr. said, his son has been scheduled for a CT scan through the help of Aksyon Radyo, and he is calling on others who could also help them with their other expenses for the boy's treatment.