Thirty-five people have sought medical treatment for acute symptoms after allegedly eating banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) from a vendor in Jhubei City (竹北), the Hsinchu County Public Health Bureau said yesterday.
The bureau said that since Saturday, it has received several reports of suspected food poisoning from hospitals.
The vendor has been ordered to temporarily suspend its business, it said, adding that tests were being conducted to determine whether the people had food poisoning, with results expected in about two weeks.
Photo courtesy of the Hsinchu County Government
A preliminary investigation showed that the people who sought treatment had recently eaten banh mi at a vendor at a retail market in Jhubei, it said.
Of the 35 cases, 14 were reported by Ton Yen General Hospital, 12 reported by China Medical University Hsinchu Hospital, four by National Taiwan University Hospital’s Hsinchu Branch and two by Mackay Memorial Hospital Hsinchu Branch, while three sought treatment at other healthcare facilities, it said.
The people reported vomiting, abdominal cramps, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and dizziness, the bureau said, adding that five people were still hospitalized.
Bureau inspectors checked the hygiene processes and conditions at the vendor and collected specimens of ham and butter, as well as swabs from cutting boards, trays and the hands of workers, it said.
The inspection found some flaws, including indications of a possible vector of transmission for pathogens, ingredients that had been repackaged without an expiration date, and ingredients, seasonings and kitchenware stored on the floor, it said.
The vendor has been ordered to improve the issues, it said, adding that if it fails to address them, it would face a fine of NT$60,000 to NT$200 million (US$1,879 to US$6.26 million) as stipulated by the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (食品安全衛生管理法).
In other news, the Taipei Department of Health said that 24 percent of produce items failed pesticide residue testing.
Food and Drug Division Director Lin Kuan-chen (林冠蓁) said that the department last month randomly sampled 50 fresh vegetable and fruit items at markets, supermarkets, hypermarkets and restaurants.
Twelve items had one or two pesticide residue levels exceeding the maximum allowable limits, Lin said.
The failed items were four samples of basil, three samples of lychees, and one each of passionfruit, white radish, coriander, longan and jackfruit, she said.
Aside from one item for which the vendor could not identify the origin, the department has informed the local health departments about the items that failed the inspection, she said, adding that the local departments can fine growers if it is verified that pesticide regulations were contravened.
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