ASEAN HEADLINE | PHONM PENH: More than 40 people hospitalized in Cambodia after eating contaminated sandwiches

Officers from Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression Directorate-General takes sample from the shop for analysis in Cambodia. PHOTO: PHNOM PENH NEWS

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ANN/THE PHONM PENH NEWS – At least 41 people in Preah Sihanouk town, Cambodia, were hospitalised last week after consuming sandwiches contaminated with two types of bacteria, according to the Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression Directorate-General (CCF).

The CCF, under the Ministry of Commerce, reported that the affected individuals suffered from symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting and were admitted to various hospitals. The incident is being investigated as a case of food poisoning.

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In response to the outbreak, CCF officials conducted an inspection at the food outlet involved.

Twelve samples, including sandwiches and their ingredients, were collected for laboratory analysis to identify the source of contamination.

“Analysis results showed the samples contained E. coli bacteria at levels exceeding the permissible limit and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria at levels above safety thresholds,” the CCF stated.

Colony-forming units per gramme (CFU/g) is a measurement used in microbiology to quantify the number of viable microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi, in a gram of a given sample, reflecting their ability to multiply and form colonies.

Staphylococcus aureus, the CCF explained, can cause food poisoning within one to six hours of consuming contaminated food, resulting in symptoms such as nausea, stomach pain and diarrhoea.

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The Preah Sihanouk provincial health department responded to the incident with its emergency and food safety team on December 28.

The group interviewed five patients hospitalised the previous evening, who reported symptoms including fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headaches, fatigue and dehydration.

All five patients had recovered by December 29.

As an immediate measure, the health department’s food safety team provided hygiene guidance to the food outlet that sold the contaminated sandwiches.

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