Vĩnh Long mass food poisoning caused by three microorganisms

Leaders of Vĩnh Long Province's Labour Confederation visits workers who suffered from food poisoning. VNA/VNS Photo Lê Thúy Hằng

VĨNH LONG — The Vĩnh Long Provincial Sub-department of Food Hygiene and Safety announced on Wednesday afternoon that more than 220 people were hospitalised after lunch on August 12 at BoHsing Enterprise Co., Ltd. due to food poisoning caused by microorganisms, including Bacillus cereus, E. coli and Salmonella spp.

According to the head of the sub-department Lê Thị Tuyết Nhung, the contaminated food was either self-prepared by the company, which is located in Hòa Phú Industrial Zone, Long Hồ District, or provided by Hồng Phát, a local food business from Phú Quới Commune.

The dishes included stir-fried corn with radish and pork, fried tofu, vegetarian stir-fried corn, chicken wings fried in fish sauce, stir-fried pork with beans and carrots, salad with lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes, and fruit (including apples and bananas).

Test results revealed Bacillus cereus and E. coli bacteria in the stir-fried corn with radish and pork, fried tofu, and vegetarian stir-fried corn prepared by BoHsing.

The chicken wings, salad and fruit provided by Hồng Phát were also contaminated.

Additionally, the stir-fried pork with beans and carrots was found to contain all three bacteria, including Bacillus cereus, E. coli, and Salmonella spp.

Authorities have recommended fines between VNĐ160-200 million (US$6,490-$8,120) for BoHsing Company for processing and supplying food that caused the mass poisoning. Hồng Phát was recommended for fines between VNĐ80-100 million ($3,240-$4,060) for providing contaminated food. They are also facing additional penalties between VNĐ1-3 million ($40-$121) for not preventing cross-contamination in the kitchen and between VNĐ3-5 million ($121-$203) for improper food sampling procedures.

A mitigating factor for BoHsing was their cooperation with authorities during the investigation and their support of the victims by covering medical costs and compensating employees during their recovery.

As a result, the company will be suspended from all food processing activities for three months and must bear all costs related to the food poisoning incident.

Meanwhile, Hồng Phát will be suspended for four months and will also have to cover all costs related to the treatment and management of the food poisoning cases.

On August 12, BoHsing organised lunch for 1,500 workers. The company used their on-site kitchen to prepare and divide the meals, which consisted of 1,374 regular meals and 126 vegetarian meals. The company's union had also contracted Hồng Phát to provide additional dishes.

Of the 1,500 workers who ate lunch that day, 287 experienced food poisoning, with 221 needing hospitalisation. All of those hospitalised have since been discharged and are in stable health. — VNS