Gastrointestinal illness outbreak associated with Saigon Vietnam Deli

Highlights, updated March 3, 2022

Summary

Public Health investigated an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness with diarrhea, vomiting, body aches, headaches and fevers associated with a takeout meal from Saigon Vietnam Deli on July 25, 2020. A specific food or drink item that might have caused the illnesses was not identified.

Illnesses

Since August 3, 2020, Public Health learned about 8 people with a gastrointestinal illness who reported eating takeout food together from Saigon Vietnam Deli on July 25, 2020. Other food was also ordered for takeout from another food establishment, but since only half of the ill people ate the food from the second restaurant, it is unlikely the source of illnesses.

We did not identify any ill employees.

Public Health actions

Initial outreach to the restaurant was conducted over the telephone in an effort to follow COVID Safe Start guidelines to minimize contact with others. Environmental Health investigators held a teleconference with restaurant management on August 5, 2020. Investigators reviewed food handling practices, illness policies, employee schedules, employee health, food sources, and facility cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection procedures with the restaurant management to identify possible risk factors for the spread of a gastrointestinal illness.

An Environmental Health investigator visited the restaurant on August 6, 2020, to review food handling practices at the establishment and conduct an onsite inspection. The investigator's inspection identified potential risk factors, including inadequate hand washing, improper cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces, inadequate cold holding of foods, and food handling practices that could lead to cross contamination of bacteria; corrective actions were discussed with restaurant management.

Laboratory testing

We do not have laboratory results for the people who got sick. Symptoms among those who got sick are suggestive of a bacterial illness.