Parents were enraged, an investigation was launched, the story went viral. Students at a Chengdu school were being served moldy and rotten food, based on photos that circulated last week.

But now, authorities in the southwestern city are alleging that the photos were faked, after their investigation found that only one out the 18 samples collected from the Chengdu No. 7 Experimental High School’s canteen did not meet safety standards.

On Sunday, a local investigation team announced that three people have been detained for disseminating “fake information” after CCTV footage showed them entering the canteen storehouse and trampling on food before taking photos last Tuesday.

The authorities said that a sample of noodles was found to contain mildew – but that the other 17 ingredients it tested were clean. Another three samples, however, are still being tested for salmonella, and results are forthcoming. Authorities also seized 22.5 kg of “substandard” noodles.

There was no way to verify the accuracy of the authorities' claim that the photos were faked. But between March 13 and March 16, 929 of the school’s students were sent to the hospital for check-ups in response to the scandal, and three students were hospitalized for acute appendicitis, inflamed abdominal lymph nodes and abdominal pain.

The school's principal has since been dismissed, authorities announced.

Related: Private School Fires Supplier That Served Students Spoiled Food

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