From Gimbap to Milmyeon... 'Mass Food Poisoning' Warning Lights Turned On

[Image source=Getty Images Bank]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Recently, with the weather becoming hotter, cases of food poisoning have been occurring frequently, requiring special caution.

A mass food poisoning incident occurred at two branches of the franchise gimbap specialty store, Manyeo Gimbap, located in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province. According to Seongnam City, as of 5 p.m. on the 6th, there were 118 patients at Branch A and 158 patients at Branch B, totaling 276 food poisoning cases at the two gimbap stores. There were 77 additional reports of damage within a day. For Branch A, patients were concentrated among customers who used the store from the 29th to 30th of last month, and for Branch B, from the 1st to 2nd of this month.

The Gyeongin Regional Food and Drug Administration collected specimens from five patients who showed food poisoning symptoms after eating gimbap from Branch A and were hospitalized at Bundang Seoul National University Hospital. Rapid tests conducted on the 2nd and 3rd detected Salmonella bacteria in one specimen, and traces of Salmonella infection were confirmed in four others.

The city has currently requested the Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment to test environmental samples collected from the patients' specimens, eggs, cutting boards, and utensils from the two gimbap stores. The detailed test results are expected to be released around the 9th to 10th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Following the gimbap stores, a mass food poisoning incident also occurred at a milmyeon (wheat noodle) restaurant in Busan. Epidemiological investigations by Busan City detected Salmonella bacteria in ingredients such as egg garnish, pickled radish, and seasoning sauce used at the C Milmyeon restaurant.

Human tests conducted on customers who reported food poisoning symptoms found Salmonella bacteria in 28 out of 50 cases.

At the C Milmyeon restaurant, about 450 citizens who ate food between lunchtime on the 18th and the morning of the 19th last month complained of symptoms such as high fever and diarrhea, and more than 100 of them reportedly required hospitalization and treatment. On the 6th, Yeonje-gu, Busan, announced administrative measures including a one-month business suspension for the C Milmyeon restaurant and plans to file charges against the owner for violating the Food Sanitation Act.

A district official stated, "Most citizens who experienced food poisoning symptoms have fully recovered," and urged, "Special attention is needed for hygiene management during the summer season."

All of these mass food poisoning incidents are known to have been caused by 'Salmonella bacteria.' Consuming food contaminated with Salmonella can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.

Kim Kang-rip, Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, leading summer seafood safety management (center).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In this regard, the government is expected to conduct hygiene inspections on similar businesses. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that from the 9th to the 20th, it will conduct intensive hygiene management inspections on food establishments handling snacks such as gimbap, in cooperation with 17 local governments nationwide. The inspections were originally planned for the fourth quarter but were moved up in consideration of the recent mass food poisoning incidents.

The inspection targets include about 3,000 places such as franchises and snack shops with past records of food poisoning or non-compliance. The inspections will check basic compliance with the Food Sanitation Act, as well as adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures such as maintaining visitor logs, regular ventilation, and disinfection. Additionally, samples of prepared gimbap will be collected and tested for food poisoning bacteria such as Salmonella, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes.

On the 6th, Kim Kang-rip, Commissioner of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, urged, "During the summer, leaving ingredients and food at room temperature can rapidly increase the risk of food poisoning bacteria growth, so please consume food as soon as possible after cooking or cool it sufficiently and store it refrigerated. Also, reheat leftover food before consumption. Please take special care to prevent food poisoning in the summer."

He also emphasized the importance of following the six major prevention rules for summer food poisoning: ▲ washing hands ▲ eating cooked food ▲ boiling food ▲ cleaning and disinfecting ▲ using separate utensils ▲ maintaining proper storage temperatures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.