Health Ministry Demands Investigation into Suspected Food Poisoning of 46 Students in Ca Mau

A concerning incident has prompted swift action from Vietnam's health authorities, as 46 students in Ca Mau province fell ill after consuming meals provided by a community-supported '0 VND' (free) food program. The students from Nhu Y Cam Primary School experienced symptoms of suspected food poisoning, leading to their admission to a local health center.

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The Food Safety Department requests the local health sector to direct medical facilities to concentrate resources on treating the suspected poisoning cases, ensuring no harm to patients' health and lives.

The Ministry of Health's Food Safety Department has officially requested the provincial Department of Health to urgently investigate the matter. This includes identifying the source of the food, collecting samples for testing, and ensuring the affected students receive appropriate medical care. The investigation aims to pinpoint the exact cause of the illness and hold any responsible parties accountable for breaches in food safety standards.

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The department also requests an investigation and tracing of the food's origin to identify the supplier of raw materials and food suspected of causing poisoning; simultaneously collecting food and patient samples for testing to clarify the cause.

Tuổi Trẻ Online reports that the '0 VND' kitchen, organized by the provincial Women's Union, usually prepares meals in-house. However, recent days saw them sourcing food items like steamed buns, bread, and noodles from external suppliers due to staff being busy. While many students received meals, only a subset developed symptoms, making it difficult to immediately identify the problematic dish. This situation highlights the critical importance of stringent food safety protocols, especially in programs designed to support vulnerable students. The swift response from the Ministry of Health underscores the government's commitment to protecting public health and ensuring the safety of food distributed through community initiatives.

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Normally, meals are cooked by local staff. However, in recent days, due to being busy, the kitchen ordered pre-made meals including steamed buns, bread, and noodles from outside. Many meals were distributed, but only some students showed symptoms, so it is not yet possible to determine which dish caused the problem.