HO CHI MINH CITY: Over the past week, eight hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City have received 202 people suspected of suffering food poisoning after having banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) from two stores of the same chain.
The municipal health department on Nov 10 reported that Military Hospital 175 had admitted 131 patients with suspected food poisoning linked to the sandwiches. All of them were children, the oldest only 15 years old.
In total, the victims were hospitalised after eating banh mi from one store in Nguyen Thai Son Street, Hanh Thong Ward, and another in Le Quang Dinh Street, Binh Loi Trung Ward. Most patients have been discharged, but dozens remain hospitalised, with some in serious condition.
Preliminary clinical and subclinical data from most patients are consistent with intestinal bacterial infection, most likely caused by food poisoning.
The department has submitted a report on the incident to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and the Ministry of Health, and has instructed hospitals to ensure proper triage and treatment in line with the issued food poisoning treatment protocols.
Hospitals are also required to provide rapid reports to the department.
Earlier, after a surge of hospitalisations linked to banh mi, the Hanh Thong Ward People’s Committee set up an inspection team to verify the case and sealed food samples at the first branch in Nguyen Thai Son Street.
The city’s Food Safety Management Authority has temporarily suspended operations at this branch, collected food and environmental samples, and launched an investigation to identify the cause of the poisoning in accordance with its jurisdiction.
A report from the food safety agency showed that all food items, including pork sausage, cold cuts, pate, eggs, vegetables, chillies and cucumbers, had invoices and documents proving clear origins.
The establishment was equipped with a refrigerator for food storage and kept records of goods received and dispatched. Food processing and storage utensils met hygiene standards. The processing area was roofed and equipped with measures to keep out insects and harmful animals.
At the second branch in Le Quang Dinh Street, business activities have been suspended since the morning of Nov 7.
The case is currently under investigation by the relevant authorities. - Vietnam News/ANN
