More than 500 fall ill after eating bánh mì in Vietnam

An initial inspection of the bakery revealed that it did not meet food safety standards.

Bánh mì is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich consisting of a French-style baguette stuffed with cold meats, pâté and vegetables.

On Monday, Long Khanh Town authorities confirmed that at least 560 people had fallen ill after consuming sandwiches from Bang bakery in Long Khanh city on 30 April.

They also stated that 200 people had since been discharged.

The bakery, based on Tran Quang Dieu Street, sells about 1,100 of the sandwiches every day, according to local authorities.

The number of cases of suspected food poisoning has steadily risen each day, say local hospital reports.

Symptoms included diarrhoea, vomiting, fever and severe abdominal pains.

One Vietnamese newspaper, Health and Life, spoke to one woman whose three children were being treated at the intensive care unit at Dong Nai Children’s Hospital.

Tran Ngoc Phuong told the paper she bought three sandwiches for her children with extra meat. Within 24 hours, they all began showing symptoms of food poisoning.