Ramkhamhaeng University students Kasitinart Noomkaew, 23, and Pitchaya Pathumwal, 20, had the questionable steaks at the Lee Garden Plaza branch of the American restaurant chain on February 14 and were hospitalised for severe diarrhoea later that day.

Kasitinart's mother Waraporn Noonkaew accompanied the two students to the Songkhla Consumer Protection Office to file their complaint yesterday. Waraporn said they hoped to get advice and assistance.

The girls are demanding Bt1 million each.

They submitted reports from Sikarin Hospital saying they had been diagnosed with food poisoning and had suffered from severe diarrhoea as well as a tape recording of a conversation between them and the restaurant manager.

Waraporn told reporters about the incident on February 25 and said the restaurant denied assistance to the victims.

However, the manager of the Sizzler branch, Supawadi Kaewsen, yesterday said she did not deny assistance or refuse to take responsibility, but that the matter was no longer in her hands.

The company's insurance division in Bangkok is working "to assist the girls", she said, declining to give further details.

Supawadi said the "problematic menu" was a promotion and had been cancelled right after the incident. In a statement, Sizzler (Thailand) said: "All ingredients received at Sizzler are temperature-controlled from our suppliers to our stores.

"This temperature control extends through our store as our staff continues to monitor the temperatures of all food and ingredients in our kitchen and at our salad bar.

"At the grill, each and every item cooked has its temperature checked to ensure that we serve our customers products that meet and exceed all international food safety guidelines."

The Nation

Songkhla