‘Banh mi’ bakery owner faces proposed $3,880 fine over mass food poisoning in Vietnam
Authorities in Cam Thanh Ward under Quang Ngai Province, located in central Vietnam, have proposed a VND100 million (US$3,880) fine for the owner of Ba Duoc Banh Mi Shop following a ‘banh mi’ poisoning incident that affected 175 people.
Nguyen Van Hung, chairman of the Cam Thanh Ward People’s Committee, said on Monday that the fine was only a proposal by the ward and remained subject to consideration and approval by the competent authorities.
Despite holding a compensation payment session for the victims on October 27, the bakery has yet to complete the compensation process.
The business owner has also not reported to local authorities the total amount of money paid to the victims.
At a meeting on the same day, the bakery representative outlined a compensation plan covering the remaining hospital bills after deducting payments made by health insurance, along with additional financial support.
However, around 40 victims rejected the proposal, arguing that the calculation failed to adequately account for the full extent of their losses, including damage to their health, lost income and wages during their treatment.
There are some 100 streetside ‘banh mi’ carts in the ward.
Following the mass poisoning, the ward has stepped up inspections and monitoring of food safety and hygiene standards.
Representatives from the bakery pay compensation to the victims. Photo: Tran Mai / Tuoi Tre
The first patients developed symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever after eating ‘banh mi’ purchased from Ba Duoc Banh Mi Shop on Duy Tan Street in Cam Thanh Ward on October 9.
More people were admitted to hospital for treatment on October 10 and 11.
Authorities eventually confirmed 175 food poisoning cases and subsequently inspected the premises and collected food samples for testing.
Five days later, the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute announced its test results, revealing that 12 of 13 food samples linked to the mass food poisoning tested positive for Salmonella spp.
Salmonella spp is a dangerous intestinal bacteria often found in improperly prepared foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy. Infections typically cause fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration within hours to days.
The bakery held a compensation payment session for all 175 affected customers on October 27.
Around 40 people objected to the proposed calculations.
The session became tense, with heated exchanges between the two sides.
By early afternoon, payments were still being made.
Although many victims remained dissatisfied with the business’s compensation plan, some reportedly accepted the payments out of exhaustion.
Tieu Bac - Tran Mai / Tuoi Tre News
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