The Ministry of Health on Tuesday criticized school leaders of a college that was the center of a major food poisoning outbreak this year.

A circular issued by the ministry Tuesday suggested sanctions on those responsible after 167 students from the Lintong branch of the Xi'an Science and Technology College suffered food poisoning from April 28 to May 19.

Local health officials from the city of Xi'an, capital of western Shaanxi province, went to the college upon receiving message about the situation from students on May 19, but were refused entry by school gate keepers for SARS evaluation.

They were later allowed to enter the college for inspection. They found that the function areas of the kitchen of the dining hall for students were not divided. Places for raw and cooked foods were not separated, with too many flies and bad air ventilation.

A May 25 report by the health bureau of the city's Lintong district said the conditions of the kitchen led to food poisoning caused by bacteria.

The school did not report the poisoning case to local health authorities and did not take any effective measures to control the situation for at least 20 days since April 28, which were in violation of relevant laws and regulations, according to the ministry.

The students who suffered food poisoning had all been cured by May 22.