Over 1,300 Students Suffer Food Poisoning After School Meal in Ho Chi Minh City

A concerning incident of mass food poisoning has affected over 1,300 students at Dang Thuy Tram Primary School in Ho Chi Minh City, following a meal served on April 24. The students, attending classes at two different school facilities, primarily exhibited symptoms of gastrointestinal distress. The investigation, led by the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Authority, is actively working to pinpoint the exact cause and responsible parties.

Preliminary investigations have identified Xich Long Trading Production Co., Ltd. as the supplier of the implicated meals. Officials have begun tracing the origin of the food ingredients used on the day of the incident. While initial assessments and expert opinions from medical facilities suggest a link to the school meal, further time and comprehensive professional procedures are required to definitively establish the cause and assign accountability.

Mr. Le Minh Hai, Deputy Director of the Food Safety Authority, stated during a press conference that while the incident is broadly identified as food poisoning, conclusive findings depend on the full investigation. He emphasized that determining responsibility, whether administrative or criminal, requires a thorough assessment of the health impacts on the affected students and whether the violations were intentional or accidental. The authority acknowledges the challenges in processing such cases, particularly when distinguishing between negligence and deliberate disregard for safety standards. This incident underscores the persistent risks associated with school food safety, especially during hot weather, highlighting the critical need for stringent controls throughout the entire food supply chain, from ingredient sourcing to preparation and storage.

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We have taken samples for testing, inspected the food processing and storage stages, and worked with those involved in serving the meal. To date, it can be basically confirmed that this is a case of food poisoning, but to conclude the exact cause of poisoning requires more time.