Twelve people became ill and needed hospital treatment after eating at Delight Restaurant & BBQ located on Castlemore Avenue and Markham Street on August 27 and 28.  Of the dozens, four were admitted to intensive care.
Local health officials subsequently closed the restaurant for an investigation and sent food samples to a laboratory to determine what caused the incident.  They suspected that behind the poisoning was a toxin called aconite found in herbs, roots or a certain flower.
If ingested, the toxin can cause diarrhea, convulsions, or arrhythmias.  It can be potentially fatal, with one expert saying that as little as two milligrams of aconite can be fatal to humans.
In a press release Thursday, officials said lab tests confirmed what they suspected.  One of the spices used in the restaurant — Mr.  Right brand Keampferia Galanga Powder — tested for aconite.  The contaminated package has product code AT154.
The other package of powder coded AT119 tested negative, officials said.
Earlier, health officials advised the public not to use Keampferia Galanga powder, a common spice in Asian cuisine, and Mr.  Right Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii and throw them away as it is believed that the products are contaminated with the toxin.
Officials say the products have been removed from all retail locations in the York area.
“In our previous announcement, we recommended that individuals and businesses dispose of all Mr.  Right Keampferia Galanga, regardless of the package code.  We continue to advise this action with extreme caution as we do not know if there has been cross-contamination of this product and the consequences of consuming even a small amount are very serious,” officials said in a statement released Thursday night.
They added that the brand distributor Mr.  Right Keampferia Galanga Powder has agreed to voluntarily recall the product.
Meanwhile, officials said all the affected people are improving and only one person remains in hospital.
Officials previously noted there was no indication the poisoning was intentional.
The restaurant reopened Wednesday after passing an inspection.
– with files from CTV Toronto staff and The Canadian Press