The number of hospitalizations due to suspected food poisoning in Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam reached 148 as of 1:00 pm on Monday, with most of them seeking medical attention after eating banh mi from the same food establishment.

Vo Minh Phuc, head of the provincial Department for Food Safety, told a press conference held on Monday afternoon that these 148 cases had been admitted to six general hospitals and medical centers in the province between August 7 and 12.

He added that 44 of them had been discharged from hospital, four were transferred to other health facilities upon their requests, while the remaining 100 are receiving medical treatment.

Earlier, Thai Duong Company had inked a deal with a Hong Ngoc 12 bakery, both located in the provincial city of Hong Ngu, to provide the company’s employees with banh mi as overtime meals.

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

At 4:30 pm on August 6, the bakery’s staff member delivered 33 loaves of banh mi to the company where 30 employees ate the dish during their evening shift.

On the following day, 20 employees of this company were hospitalized after they developed symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. 

The bakery was forced to suspend its operations at 10:30 am on August 7.

The administration of Hong Ngu City on August 8 set up a task force to inspect the compliance with food safety rules at the company and the bakery.

Between August 8 and 12, more Hong Ngu residents and non-residents were hospitalized with suspected food poisoning symptoms, with most of them claiming that they had consumed banh mi offered at the Hong Ngoc 12 bakery.

The local health authority collected food samples and patient specimens for testing to serve an investigation into the cause of the poisoning.

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