At least 180 students fell ill after having milk and cookies at an elementary school in central China’s Hunan Province.

Students from a school in Xinhua County were hospitalised after they reported having headaches, stomachache and vomiting in the last four days, state-run news agency reported on Saturday.

They have been sent to local hospitals for treatment.

So far 168 students had been discharged from hospital, while 12 remain for further observation, the report quoted county government as saying.

The milk and cookies supplied to the students have been sealed and samples have been sent to the provincial disease control and prevention centre for investigation, it said.

According to the county government, preliminary investigation shows that milk might have caused the incident. Further investigation into the matter is underway.