On the afternoon of 28/7, Le Khac Phuc, Vice Chairman of the Nam Ban Lam Ha Commune People's Committee, reported that patients have been hospitalized since 26/7. All individuals shared a common factor: they had eaten banh mi purchased from the Minh Trung grilled pork and pate banh mi establishment, located in Hai Ba Trung hamlet, Nam Ban Lam Ha commune, on the mornings of 25/7 and 26/7. Authorities reported the establishment sold approximately 110 banh mi during these two days.

Patients suspected of food poisoning after eating banh mi, receiving treatment at Lam Dong General Hospital. *Photo: Hoai Thanh*

Lam Dong health authorities recorded 84 individuals seeking examination and treatment at the Nam Ban Lam Ha Commune Health Station, Lam Ha Regional Medical Center, and Lam Dong General Hospital. Initial diagnoses suggested food poisoning.

Currently, 39 people have been discharged. No severe cases have been reported among patients still receiving treatment.

The Food Safety and Hygiene Department collected seven food samples from the banh mi establishment, including: grilled pork, pate, egg sauce, meat sauce, gio (Vietnamese ham), cucumber, and pickled radish. These samples were sent to the Tay Nguyen Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for testing to determine the cause of the incident.

The banh mi shop has temporarily ceased operations at the request of the Nam Ban Lam Ha Commune People's Committee.

Since the beginning of the year, southern provinces have experienced a series of mass food poisoning incidents linked to banh mi. These cases were often attributed to ingredients such as pate, meat, vegetables, and gio being contaminated with intestinal bacteria like Salmonella and E.coli.

Hoai Thanh