Nearly 100 people fell ill in China's Hebei province over the weekend due to suspected contaminated chicken, officials say.

In total, 97 people in Baoding City have been hospitalized since Friday for suspected food poisoning, Xinhua reported Sunday.

Two people have since checked out of the hospital, while one person is critically ill and the others are in stable condition, local authorities said.

An initial investigation found that the illness was caused by braised chicken from a local store.

The store has since been closed and further investigation into the incident is under way, officials said.

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