On 11/6, the Dong Thap Department of Health concluded that a lunch served on 18/5 was responsible for a food poisoning outbreak affecting 81 students and teachers at Kim Dong Primary School in Sa Dec ward. The meal’s menu included white rice, pork meatballs, sweet cabbage soup with shrimp, and cream puffs.

Laboratory tests confirmed that all 4 of these dishes were contaminated with Escherichia coli (E.coli). Additionally, Bacillus cereus was detected in the white rice and sweet cabbage soup with shrimp.

Sa Dec Ward Party Committee leaders visited students affected by food poisoning at the hospital. *Photo: Duong Dong*

E.coli and Bacillus cereus were also present in semi-boarding dishes served the following day, which included white rice, pork ribs with corn, and pumpkin soup with minced meat. Stir-fried papaya from that day only showed E.coli contamination.

Soy milk, a beverage served on 19/5, was also contaminated, although fresh milk samples showed no harmful bacteria. Furthermore, Salmonella bacteria were identified in 18 of 30 patient samples.

The Department of Health attributed the poisoning to multiple contaminated food sources linked to the meals, with E.coli, Bacillus cereus (presumed), and Salmonella identified as the causative agents.

A report from the Department of Health stated, "There is a very high probability of cross-contamination during the processing and preservation of the semi-boarding meals." Contamination could have occurred at any stage of food preparation, storage, or serving, leading to the ingestion of microorganisms.

Nam Nguyen Foods Co., Ltd., based in Tan Nhuan Dong commune, supplied the semi-boarding meals to the school.

During their inspection, authorities found discrepancies between the menu provided by the school and the actual food served. For example, stir-fried water spinach, though not on the school’s menu, was part of the actual meal, but no retained sample was available for testing. Similarly, the sample for stir-fried papaya had to be collected directly from the processing facility, as no retained sample existed at the school.

The Department of Health has urged the Sa Dec Ward People’s Committee and other relevant agencies to strengthen their case files and take appropriate action against the meal provider.

The incident began on 18/5, when dozens of students and teachers at Kim Dong Primary School reported abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea after consuming their semi-boarding lunch. The number of suspected poisoning cases quickly rose to 81, all of whom have since recovered and been discharged from the hospital.

Ngoc Tai