Quang Ngai food poisoning: 175 hospitalized after eating contaminated banh mi

A mass food poisoning incident in Quang Ngai province, Vietnam, has resulted in the hospitalization of 175 people after they consumed food from the ‘Ba Duoc’ banh mi stall located on Duy Tan Street in Cam Thanh ward.

Laboratory tests conducted by the Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang confirmed the presence of Salmonella spp. in both food and patient samples. Specifically, 4 out of 9 patient clinical samples tested positive for the bacteria. Additionally, 12 out of 13 food samples collected from the stall were positive for Salmonella. The contaminated items included vegetables, pork sausage, meat floss, sauce, chili sauce, bread, and butter.

Further testing revealed high levels of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus in several samples. Notably, the butter sample contained E. coli levels as high as 18,000 CFU/g. Patients reported symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and dehydration. Local health authorities are investigating the source of the ingredients and have been directed by the Ministry of Health to ensure proper medical treatment and community warnings.