Over 100 hospitalized in central Vietnam after food poisoning linked to popular banh mi chain

As of the morning of Dec. 15, local health authorities confirmed 105 cases of suspected food poisoning, with 73 patients hospitalized, according to Do Ngoc Hoa, deputy director of the Quang Ngai Department of Health. Patients were treated at multiple hospitals across the province, while several severe cases were transferred to Da Nang for further care.

Hospitals reported a surge of patients presenting with vomiting, fever and diarrhea, with some experiencing symptoms days after consuming the sandwiches. The most serious case involved a 73-year-old man who developed acute kidney failure after eating banh mi purchased from a Hong Van outlet. Doctors said his condition has improved, though he continues to suffer from diarrhea.

Health officials said many cases involved entire families falling ill after sharing the same food, while children who removed or avoided meat fillings showed no symptoms. Patients consistently reported that banh mi containing pork rolls, beef rolls or pâté was linked to illness, while those who ate plain bread or skipped the meat fillings remained unaffected.

Several parents said their children continued to experience abdominal pain days after being discharged. One mother said her child was initially misdiagnosed with the flu before doctors determined she had severe intestinal inflammation, underscoring the delayed and lingering effects seen in some cases.

Authorities have launched an extensive inspection of the Hong Van chain, which has temporarily suspended all operations. The owner, Nguyen Hong, issued a public apology, acknowledging failures in food control and processing and pledging full cooperation with investigators.

Initial inspections found that the business could not verify the origin of its ingredients, lacked proper food safety certification and failed to meet key hygiene and production standards. Inspectors also said the main production facility did not follow one-way food processing principles designed to prevent cross-contamination and was not adequately separated from potential sources of pollution.

The provincial Center for Disease Control has collected 17 food samples and six patient specimens for laboratory testing. Results are expected within a week.

The Ministry of Health’s Food Safety Authority has urged local officials to trace ingredient supply chains, strengthen inspections of food service establishments, and tighten oversight of food safety practices, particularly at schools and communal kitchens.

Hong Van is a well-known banh mi chain in Quang Ngai, operating multiple outlets across the province.