Ho Chi Minh City banh mi shop fined $570 after 125 people hospitalized

The owner has also suspended operations at the two outlets in Phu My Ward of the former Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province.

The outbreak began on Dec. 19 last year, when customers who consumed sandwiches from the shops began reporting severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fever.

The shops, which sell an average of 800 sandwiches daily, saw the number of affected individuals rise steadily in the following days. Local medical facilities classified the cases as consistent with gastrointestinal food poisoning.

According to authorities in Phu My, a total of 125 cases were documented. Of these, 122 patients received treatment at hospitals and clinics within the local area, while three others sought medical care in neighboring Dong Nai Province.

Officials are awaiting laboratory results from the HCMC Department of Food Safety to pinpoint the exact source of the contamination.

This incident follows a string of similar outbreaks across the country.

In November 2025, more than 300 people in Ho Chi Minh City fell ill after eating at Co Bich banh mi shops due to Salmonella contamination.

In mid-December, over 200 people in Quang Ngai Province were poisoned by contaminated processed pork and vegetables from a local chain.

Salmonella is a frequent cause of foodborne illness, often transmitted through improperly handled food, contaminated utensils, or poor hygiene.