Nearly 300 cases of suspected bread poisoning in Vung Tau: Ministry of Health issues urgent instructions

The Department of Food Safety - Ministry of Health has just sent an official dispatch to the Department of Health of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province regarding the investigation and handling of suspected food poisoning cases in this locality.

Accordingly, the Food Safety Department requested the Department of Health of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to direct hospitals with patients being treated to focus all resources on actively treating patients, not to affect their health and lives, and in case of necessity, to request support for professional consultation with higher-level hospitals.

At the same time, the investigation organization will clearly determine the cause of the suspected poisoning according to regulations, trace the origin of the food suspected of causing the poisoning, and take food and medical samples for testing to find the cause.

Chairman of Vung Tau City People's Committee Hoang Vu Thanh visits patients at the emergency department of Vung Tau Hospital.

The Food Safety Department requested the Department of Health of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to direct the temporary suspension of operations of establishments suspected of causing poisoning, investigate the implementation of food safety regulations of the establishments, strictly handle violations of food safety regulations (if any) and publicize the results to promptly warn the community.

The Department of Health of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province needs to strengthen propaganda and guidance for collective kitchens, food service establishments, and street food to ensure hygiene and food safety conditions, strictly implement the management of food ingredients' origin, three-step food inspection, food sample storage, and hygiene in processing stages.

Along with that, we need to propagate and educate people about food safety knowledge and measures to prevent food poisoning, in order to raise awareness, change behaviors and habits that do not ensure food safety in choosing and using food, and not use food of unknown origin, label, or source.

On the morning of November 28, there were still many cases coming to Vung Tau Hospital due to stomachache and diarrhea after eating bread.

As of noon on November 28, Vung Tau Hospital and Vietsovpetro Medical Center received 291 suspected cases of food poisoning, of which 140 have been sent home, while 151 are being treated at the hospital.

Previously, on the morning of November 27, many people went to the hospital with symptoms of stomachache, diarrhea, vomiting. After investigation, it was found that they all ate bread at the sandwich shop - sticky rice shop Co Ba Ben Dinh (Ward 7, Vung Tau City). The suspected dish was bread with boiled meat, pork floss, butter, pate, ham, sauce, pickles, onions and cilantro.

After receiving the information, the authorities inspected the facility and the owner was unable to present documents related to business operations, food safety certificates, and documents proving the origin of the food and food ingredients.

The authorities have taken samples of all remaining food at the store and 1 sample of the specimen (vomit) taken at the hospital to send to the Ho Chi Minh City Public Health Institute for testing of microbiological indicators. Currently, Vung Tau City Police and the Economic Department are tracing the origin at 4 bread production facilities, 1 pork production facility and 1 ham production facility, requesting the related facilities to temporarily suspend business.

(Source: Nguoi Lao Dong)

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/gan-300-ca-ngo-doc-nghi-an-banh-mi-o-vung-tau-bo-y-te-chi-dao-khan-ar910179.html