Over 500 people were hospitalized due to suspected food poisoning after eating bánh mì sandwiches from a shop in southern Vietnam. Twelve of them, including two boys aged between six and seven, are in critical condition.
The bakery responsible, located in Dong Nai province, has been temporarily closed following the outbreak. It is suspected that the sandwiches may have spoiled due to the ongoing heatwave. An initial inspection of the bakery indicated it did not meet food safety standards.
Bánh mì is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich, typically made with a French-style baguette filled with cold cuts, pâté, and vegetables. On Monday, Long Khanh Town authorities confirmed that at least 560 people fell ill after consuming sandwiches from Bang bakery in Long Khanh city on 30 April. Of those affected, 200 have been discharged from the hospital.
The bakery, situated on Tran Quang Dieu Street, sells about 1,100 sandwiches daily, according to local authorities. The number of suspected food poisoning cases has continued to rise each day, with local hospital reports noting symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and severe abdominal pain.
A Vietnamese newspaper, Health and Life, interviewed a woman whose three children were in the intensive care unit at Dong Nai Children’s Hospital. Tran Ngoc Phuong said she bought three sandwiches with extra meat for her children, and within 24 hours, they all displayed symptoms of food poisoning.
The region’s Health Department reported on Sunday that blood tests from some critically ill patients revealed the presence of E. coli, a bacterium commonly found in fresh produce like beef, cheese, and fruit. According to Tuoi Tre News, local health workers have taken a sample of the bánh mì for laboratory testing to identify the source of contamination.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the food poisoning outbreak.
