55 hospitalized with suspected food poisoning after eating 'banh mi' in central Vietnam

As of Sunday morning, the number of suspected food poisoning cases linked to Ba Duoc, a 'banh mi' shop on Duy Tan Street in Cam Thanh Ward, had risen to 55.

Of the patients, 36 are being treated at Phuc Hung Private General Hospital, 14 at Quang Ngai Provincial General Hospital, and five at Quang Ngai Provincial Hospital for Obstetrics and Pediatrics.

They were admitted with abdominal cramps, vomiting, and repeated diarrhea, while some also experienced fever and dehydration.

All patients are in stable condition, with no critical cases reported.

Preliminary investigations found that all affected patients had eaten 'banh mi' purchased from the Ba Duoc stall at 12 Duy Tan Street between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm on Friday.

The stall, owned by Nguyen Thi Thuy, sells approximately 350 sandwiches daily.

Food safety concerns uncovered

During an inspection, authorities found that the owner could not provide documents verifying the origins of ingredients, including pork sausage, meat, pork floss, vegetables, and seasonings.

The food preparation area, located at the owner's home at 275 Phan Boi Chau Street, was also found to fall short of food safety standards.

Inspectors noted that the household kitchen had a passageway running through the restroom area.

Local authorities have sealed the remaining food samples and ordered the shop to temporarily suspend operations pending an official conclusion.

The provincial Center for Disease Control has collected 13 food samples and nine clinical specimens for testing to identify the cause of the suspected poisoning.

Established in 1950, Ba Duoc first operated outside the former Hoa Binh Cinema on Duy Tan Street.

According to its website, the brand now has two additional outlets in central Quang Ngai.