Sandwich poisoning incident rocks the country: Over 560 people affected

According to a BBC report, authorities in Long Khanh city, in Vietnam's Dong Nai province, issued a statement regarding individuals whose health deteriorated after consuming "banh mi" sandwiches—a popular local street food—produced by a bakery on April 30.

The statement reported that 12 of the more than 560 people poisoned are in critical condition, and 200 people have been discharged from the hospital so far.

The Regional Health Department stated that blood samples from the patients in critical condition tested positive for the "E. coli" bacterium, which can be found in fresh meat, cheese, and fruit.

Authorities noted that the bakery in question produced an average of 1,100 sandwiches per day and that the number of people seeking hospital treatment due to suspected food poisoning is increasing day by day.

Initial inspections at the bakery, which has been temporarily closed, revealed food safety violations, and police have launched an investigation into the incident.

It is estimated that the "banh mi" sandwiches, a traditional Vietnamese street food prepared with pickled vegetables and cold cuts inside a baguette, spoiled due to the heatwave affecting the city.

News Source: AA