Vietnam's Phu Yen Province fines restaurant $920 after suspected food poisoning incident

The Phu Yen health department said it imposed the fine on Pho Dem Garden Restaurant – Branch No. 3 in Tuy Hoa City – after an inspection found four violations, including improper food storage, cross-contamination risks, and stagnant wastewater in the kitchen.

The violations were discovered during an investigation into reports of abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea among customers who had eaten at the restaurant on June 2. 

Seven people were hospitalized and later discharged with diagnoses including infectious gastroenteritis and irritable bowel syndrome, health officials said.

No food or patient samples were collected in time for laboratory testing, so authorities could not confirm a food poisoning case.

The local health center responsible for the investigation was later reprimanded for procedural lapses, including failure to collect medical specimens.