Identify the cause of Phuong bread poisoning

SGGPO September 21, 2023 18:41

On the afternoon of September 21, the leader of the Department of Health of Quang Nam province said that the Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang sent a document to the unit, the Department of Food Safety of Quang Nam province to respond about the results of sample testing related to the food poisoning case of Phuong bread (in Hoi An city, Quang Nam province).

Accordingly, Nha Trang Pasteur Institute has tested 12 food samples including: pate, lettuce, cucumber, basil, onion; pork sausage, pork sausage, meatballs. The samples in the list were taken by the Center for Drug - Cosmetic - Food Testing of Quang Nam province.

Phuong Bakery

The results showed that there were 7 positive samples, detecting toxins such as: pork sausage sampled at 7:00 a.m. on September 11, positive for Bacillus cereus producing NHE and HBL toxins; braised pork sampled at 7:00 a.m. on September 11, positive for Salmonella spp; lettuce, Vietnamese coriander, onion, cucumber sampled at 7:00 a.m. on September 12, positive for Salmonella spp.

At the same time, the samples of braised pork taken at 7:30 a.m. on September 12 were positive for Salmonella spp; the meatballs taken at 7:00 a.m. on September 12 were positive for Bacillus cereus producing NHE toxin. The samples of braised pork taken at 10:30 a.m. on September 13 were positive for Salmonella spp; the meatballs taken at 10:00 a.m. on September 13 were positive for Salmonella spp. In addition, there was a stool sample of a 71-year-old woman (a foreigner) that tested positive for Salmonella group D.

Cơ quan chức năng lấy mẫu thực phẩm tại cơ sở bánh mì Phượng ảnh 2

Authorities take food samples at Phuong bakery

Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming, toxin-producing bacterium. It is commonly found in the environment, usually in soil and vegetation, but it is also present in food.

Bacillus cereus is a saprophytic bacterium, currently considered a leading cause of food poisoning, second only to Salmonella (typhoid bacteria) and viruses. Bacillus cereus causes two different clinical manifestations: vomiting syndrome and diarrhea syndrome.

Previously, as reported, many cases showed signs of food poisoning after eating Phuong bread on September 11. The first person showed signs of poisoning at 11am the same day. The time from eating to the appearance of symptoms was at least 2 hours, at most 16 hours.

According to health authorities, the number of people who were hospitalized for food poisoning after eating Phuong bread was nearly 150. Most of these people have been discharged from the hospital, and there have been no serious cases. Currently, the authorities have requested that Phuong bread shop temporarily stop operating.

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