Vietnam
Last week, more than 350 workers at a South Korean plant in the northern Vietnamese province of Vinh Phuc experienced food poisoning symptoms after consuming lunch at the company cafeteria. The affected employees exhibited symptoms such as abdominal pain and nausea, which emerged immediately after lunch. The incident occurred at the Shinwon textile company, where approximately 3,300 Vietnamese citizens are employed.
The workers had lunch in two shifts at 11:30am and 12:30pm, with meals prepared on-site by the company. The menu included chicken, broccoli, beans, and pickles.
At 2pm, five employees became ill and were taken to a local hospital. Three hours later, over 350 workers displayed food poisoning symptoms and were taken for medical care. Fortunately, no serious illness or injuries have been reported.
Law enforcement agencies in Vinh Phuc province, in collaboration with local authorities, launched an investigation to determine the cause of the mass poisoning. The provincial health department collected food samples from the factory canteen for analysis.
India
At least 90 people were sickened in a suspected food poisoning incident last Wednesday at a religious ceremony outside a Shiva temple in India’s Maharashtra’s Nanded district.
Practitioners were served porridge and ‘khir,’ a sweet dish made from milk. However, after consuming the food, people began to feel ill. Some were taken to hospital, but as more complaints of food poisoning emerged, a total of 90 devotees were taken to medical care.
Fortunately, everyone’s condition is stable, and they are out of danger. Authorities have launched an investigation.
Korea
Haps Magazine Korea reports that incidences of foodborne illness have been increasing in Busan, Korea. In response, the city has initiated comprehensive food safety inspections of all food service businesses and school cafeterias.
Nearly 1,500 schools, kindergartens, and daycares are inspected by the city annually and they are pursuing similar inspections for remaining cafeterias.
This year, the city of Busan began comprehensive annual inspections of an additional 196 cafeterias, many of which serve the elderly, vulnerable populations, and training of youth.
Commenting on this article, one national food safety attorney said, “Food safety continues to be a global necessity. I especially applaud the city of Busan for increasing the number of annual food safety inspections in cafeterias and other food businesses across the city.”
