12 food samples from Vietnam banh mi shop linked to 175 food poisoning cases positive for Salmonella

According to test results released by the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, on Friday, 12 of 13 food samples collected from Ba Duoc banh mi shop in Quang Ngai Province tested positive for Salmonella spp.

The samples were received in sealed condition at 8:50 am on October 11, and tested for several microorganisms that may have been linked to the suspected food poisoning symptoms reported by people who ate banh mi from the shop a day earlier.

Salmonella spp was detected in 12 samples, including vegetables, pork rolls, pork floss, sauce, chili paste, bread and mayo, while the only negative result came from the other pork roll sample collected for testing.

Authorities collected two pork roll samples for testing, with one testing positive for Salmonella spp and the other negative.

Salmonella can cause intestinal infections, with common symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting.

In addition to Salmonella, the tests detected several other bacteria in the food samples.

The vegetable, pork roll and mayo samples also tested positive for E. coli, while the pork roll sample was found to contain Staphylococcus aureus as well.

175 people suffer food poisoning after eating banh mi

As of Friday evening, a total of 175 people had suffered suspected food poisoning after reportedly eating banh mi from Ba Duoc outlet on Duy Tan Street in Cam Thanh Ward.

It started on October 10, when several people developed abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and fever after eating banh mi from the shop.

Phuc Hung Hospital in Quang Ngai initially received 13 patients, with the number rising to 55 by that evening.

It increased further to 105 on October 11, 135 on October 12, and 167 on the morning of October 13, and 175 as of the latest report.

All patients admitted for treatment reported having eaten Ba Duoc's banh mi before developing symptoms.

Following the reports, authorities ordered the shop to suspend operations, inspected its food preparation area and sealed the remaining food for investigation.

An initial inspection found that the owner had failed to provided documents proving the origin of some ingredients.

Authorities also noted hygiene issues in the food preparation area at the owner's home.

Ba Duoc is one of Quang Ngai Province's oldest food brands, having been in business for more than half a century.

On October 12, although official test results had yet been available, Ba Duoc shop posted an apology to customers on the shop’s social media account and pledged to address the consequences once authorities released their findings.

The shop's longstanding reputation has drawn further public attention to the case.

In response to customers, Ba Duoc said this was the first such incident it had encountered in decades of selling banh mi.