CHENGDU - A suspected food poisoning sickened 254 primary school students in southwest China's Sichuan province, local authorities said Thursday.

A total of 254 students from the Central Primary School in Yingjie township, Ziyang city had gone to see doctors by Thursday afternoon after developing symptoms of fever, vomiting and diarrhea, the city government said in a statement.

Of all, 248 children were hospitalized for further treatment at four local hospitals and six have been discharged from hospital after treatment, it said.

Parents said that dishes for the school lunch on Wednesday caused the suspected food poisoning.

The sickened children were initially diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis, according to doctors. All of them are in stable condition.

An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing.