Taipei, Aug. 5 (CNA) A Vietnamese-French sandwich stand at a traditional market in Taoyuan’s Zhongli District was forced to suspend operations Friday, after scores of its customers reported illnesses from suspected food poisoning, according to local authorities.
An inspection of the street vendor’s premises on Thursday identified 14 issues, including the temperature of the freezer, which was too high to keep food fresh, according to a press release from the city’s Department of Public Health on Friday.
In addition, there were vectors at the site, and the food ingredients were not properly covered or elevated above ground, the public health office said.
As of noon Saturday, 340 people had reported symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and fever after eating sandwiches purchased at the stand on Wednesday, the department said, citing reports it had received from hospitals and individuals.
The department’s inspectors have collected samples of the sauces, fillings, and other food items at the Vietnamese-French sandwich stand, as well as knives, cutting boards, and other kitchenware, which will be tested to determine the cause of the suspected food poisoning, the health office said.
If pathogenic microorganisms are found and the matter is confirmed as a food poisoning case, the operators of the food stand may be subject to a fine of between NT$60,000 (US$1,894) and NT$200 million, in accordance with the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, the office said.
