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More than 30 guests hit by suspected food poisoning outbreak at MCG Anzac Day lunch

More than 30 guests have been hit by a suspected food poisoning outbreak at a ritzy lunch ahead of Melbourne's Anzac Day AFL clash yesterday.
Some guests fainted and at least four were taken to hospital with gastrointestinal symptoms after attending the President's Lunch in the Olympic Room at the Melbourne Cricket Club.
Triple M Hot Breakfast show presenter Eddie McGuire, who attended the event, told listeners that guests were “dropping like flies”.
Jane Clifton, who attended the lunch at the MCG, said some guests fainted. (Instagram/Jane Clifton)
“As we stood outside for the minute’s silence, people were fair dinkum hitting the deck left, right and centre around me. I hear collapses against the door and the windows,” he said this morning.
“I didn’t see anyone throwing up but 14 people hit the deck before the opening bounce.”
One guest, Jan, said all the affected people are believed to have eaten a rabbit and chicken terrine.
“I was speaking to some other people in the sick room later on in the afternoon and it was strange that everything seemed to happen at the same time for everyone,” Jan told 3AW radio this morning.
“After I’d had the entree … I started to feel as though I was going to faint."
The guests fell ill at a function at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (pictured in 2012). (AAP)
She said lunch was served at 1pm and guests went out to watch the game about 3.30pm.
"The young man in the row in front of me passed out. I had been feeling as though I was going to faint and I was a bit dizzy ... They took him away. Later in the afternoon I had to go to the sick bay and there were 30 people in there," she said.
Singer Jane Clifton said it was "chaos" at the event and people had passed out before Kevin Sheedy spoke.
“Chaos here at the President’s Lunch. 5 people have fainted and that was BEFORE Kevin started talking," she captioned an Instagram video taken inside the function.
In the background of her video, an ambulance trolley is seen outside the function room.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesman confirmed paramedics treated more than 30 people.
"Ambulance Victoria can confirm we assessed more than 30 people at the MCG yesterday afternoon for suspected food poisoning," she told 9News.
"A small number of those assessed were taken to hospital in a stable condition."
Venue operator, Melbourne Cricket Club, is investigating after “a number of guests presented with gastro intestinal symptoms”.
"The guests were all part of the official match day function in the Olympic Room and incidents are localised to this room only within the stadium," a spokesman told 9News.
"We are currently investigating to determine the cause of these incidents. We are working in co-operation with health services and our partners to understand what caused the medical issues."
It is understood the terrine was served as an entree and numerous people walked out, fearing they would faint ahead of Essendon's match against Collingwood.
Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau attended the lunch, however it is still to be confirmed she was one of those who took ill. Government House has been contacted for comment.
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