Banh Mi Phuong, a popular bakery in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, which has recently been involved in a suspected food poisoning case, uses some 10 ingredients, mainly from a local traditional wet market.

Up to 141 people, including 34 foreigners, have become victims of the case as of Thursday afternoon after eating banh mi at the bakery, located at 2B Phan Chau Trinh Street in Minh An Ward, said director of the Quang Nam Department of Health Mai Van Muoi.

The establishment has been shut down pending an investigation into the suspected food poisoning.

An investigation by the Sub-Department of Food Safety and Hygiene under the provincial Department of Health revealed that most of the 10 ingredients of the bakery, such as bread, vegetables, cucumber, cha heo (Vietnamese pork sausage), and fresh egg sauce, were sourced from establishments in a traditional wet market in Hoi An.

Banh MiPhuong made only pâté itself.

At the investigation time, the bakery could provide its contracts on food purchase with three suppliers only.

It has no contracts with other suppliers and failed to show documents on the food safety of ingredient suppliers, according to the Sub-Department of Food Safety and Hygiene.

The provincial authorities have taken samples from Banh Mi Phuong for testing at the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute in south-central Khanh Hoa Province, which is expected to provide results in seven to 10 days.

However, the Sub-Department of Food Safety and Hygiene forecast that pâté, xiu mai (meatballs), and pickles pose a high risk of poisoning.

All 10 employees at the bakery have been trained in food hygiene and safety and have their health checked regularly.

The Vietnam Food Administration under the Ministry of Health had asked the Quang Nam Department of Health to check Banh Mi Phuong’s compliance with food safety regulations, trace the origins of its ingredients, and take food samples for testing to identify the cause of the food poisoning case.

The Ministry of Health also tasked the provincial healthcare sector with intensively treating the victims.

Banh mi, a type of Vietnamese baguette typically filled with cold meats, pâté, and vegetables, is a popular dish in Vietnam.

Many local and foreign tourists were advised to give banh mi at Banh Mi Phuong a try during their trips to Hoi An City. The brand has been famed on local and international tourism forums.

American celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain used to describe banh mi at this bakery as 'a symphony in a sandwich.'

However, over the past three days, 141 people have been taken to hospitals with fevers, vomiting, stomachaches, and diarrhea a few hours after eating banh mi at Banh Mi Phuong.

In particular, 105 were taken to hospitals in Quang Nam and 36 were brought to neighboring Da Nang City, approximately 40 kilometers from Hoi An.

Most of them are in stable condition now, director Muoi informed.

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