More than 200 workers show signs of food poisoning
On September 21, in an exchange with Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Ha Nhat Linh - Chief of Office of Hue City Department of Health - said that a total of 222 cases related to suspected food poisoning at the collective kitchen of Scavi Hue Company have been received and treated at two medical facilities in the area. Among these, Phong Dien Medical Center received 24 people, Hue Central Hospital facility 2 received 198 cases. All have been discharged.
The incident occurred at the collective kitchen of Scavi Hue Company, located in Phong Dien Industrial Park. The unit providing food services for workers here is Hue Thanh One Member Limited Liability Company. Initial investigation results show that from about 9 am on September 11, some workers began to show symptoms of abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Enterprise medical staff performed first aid on the spot. However, the number of people with abnormal symptoms continued to increase. Faced with this situation, workers were successively taken to Phong Dien Medical Center and Hue Central Hospital facility 2 for examination and treatment.
Immediately after receiving information about suspected poisoning cases, Hue City Department of Health established a working group, coordinated with Phong Dien Medical Center and related units to conduct epidemiological investigations and verify the incident.
The working group inspected the collective kitchen, took food and disease samples for testing. The kitchen at Scavi Hue Company under Hue Thanh One Member Limited Liability Company was also temporarily suspended from food service business from September 12, until the competent authority completes the investigation, verification and issues a handling conclusion.
To date, the cause of the incident has not been determined by the Hue City health sector. Food samples and specimens are being tested. Test results will be the basis for functional agencies to clarify the cause and handle it according to regulations. According to the Chief of Office of the Hue City Department of Health, the expected result report on the cause of the poisoning incident will be available on September 22.
Reviewing dozens of kitchens and food business establishments
After the incident at Scavi Hue Company, Hue City Department of Health deployed inspections of compliance with food safety regulations at 25 food service business establishments, collective kitchens of schools and businesses in the area. The inspection was carried out from mid-September to early October 2026. The delegation was led by Mr. Le Dinh Nhan - Head of Food Safety Department, Hue City Department of Health.
The facilities were inspected in many areas, focusing on places at risk of food safety problems such as collective kitchens in Phu Bai, Phu Da, Phong Dien, and An Hoa industrial parks.
The inspection schedule starts from a business in Phu Bai Industrial Park, then expands to restaurants, food business households, hotels, businesses and schools. The inspection content focuses on conditions directly related to the quality and safety of meals. Including legal documents, facilities conditions, processing processes, kitchen area hygiene, water sources, origin of raw materials and food sample storage.
The delegation also inspected health check-up records and food safety knowledge training for staff. When necessary, functional forces will take food samples for testing, thereby assessing the risk of unsafety.
According to the Hue City Department of Health, the inspection aims to detect early any shortcomings and risks of food insecurity at collective kitchens and food service business establishments; and at the same time rectify compliance with regulations, contributing to limiting the risk of food poisoning cases in the area.
