From Bread to Poison: The Dark Side of Home-Made Bread in Dong Nai

Bang bread shop in Dong Nai has been operating for over 20 years, selling more than 1,000 loaves a day. The owner, Ms. Bang, buys raw materials from markets and acquaintances’ stores without receipts. They make homemade pate, pickles, and sauce and purchase other ingredients like pork sausage, ham, and pork from elsewhere.

The cooking process takes place right on the porch with food being prepared and cooked in various areas around the shop. Due to the large number of customers, employees cut cakes, reduce pate and meats, and collect money. All sellers wear gloves during the process.

Recently, authorities sealed the freezer at the shop after a poisoning incident that affected over 500 people who consumed bread from the shop on April 30 and May 1. The symptoms included abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and fever with some cases being severe enough to require ventilators and dialysis.

The Dong Nai Department of Health is treating the affected individuals with support from experts sent by Ho Chi Minh City Children’s Hospital 1. The police are investigating the situation and taking samples to determine if there are any criminal signs. If necessary, they will proceed with legal action according to the law. This incident has caused concern among the community and raised awareness about food safety and hygiene practices in establishments like Bang bread shop.

The staff at Bang bread shop buy ingredients from small establishments before preparing them according to their own recipe without receipts due to lack of documentation. However, it is important for establishments to adhere to food safety regulations to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.

Ms. Bang mentioned that they use raw materials from markets but do not have receipts as she prefers buying fresh produce instead of relying on suppliers with expired products or those who may not have proper licenses or certifications.

Despite this incident, Ms. Bang remains committed to improving her business operations while ensuring customer safety through proper hygiene practices.

Overall, this incident highlights the importance of ensuring food safety regulations are followed by all establishments involved in food production or sale processes.