Nearly 200 Food Poisoning Cases at Manyeokimbap: "We Won't Avoid or Hide," But Eventually Apologized

"Touching Trash Bins While Cooking" Hygiene Complaints Also Filed in August Last Year

Not directly related to the article content. / (Left) Screenshot from Ma-nyeo Gimbap official Instagram, (Right) Getty Images Bank

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The number of suspected food poisoning cases linked to two franchise gimbap stores in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, has nearly reached 200.

The Seongnam City health authorities announced that as of 5 p.m. today (the 5th), 102 people showed symptoms of suspected food poisoning at the Jeongja-dong store, and 97 people at the Yatap store, totaling 199 cases.

The gimbap stores involved have apologized and stated they will accept any related penalties. "Cheongdam-dong Manyeo Gimbap" posted on their official website and social media channels this morning (the 5th), "We sincerely apologize for the great pain and damage caused by the recent food poisoning incident in the Bundang area."

They added, "The local administrative authorities are currently conducting an epidemiological investigation and identifying the cause, and we will accept any sanctions once the results are out. Although we are afraid, we will not evade or hide from responsibility."

The outbreak began between the 29th and 30th of last month at Cheongdam-dong Manyeo Gimbap's Branch A, where customers experienced food poisoning symptoms, resulting in 102 cases so far. Subsequently, 97 cases were reported at the nearby Branch B, with most patients showing mild symptoms.

Approximately 4,200 gimbap rolls were sold at the two stores on the affected dates. Health authorities confirmed the detection of Salmonella bacteria in samples taken from some customers hospitalized with food poisoning symptoms after visiting Branch B.

◆ Reviews of the gimbap store: "After eating gimbap, my wife and I got food poisoning and my fever rose to 40 degrees Celsius"

Photo by Naver review capture of the respective kimbap restaurant

"I am an early-stage pregnant woman... After eating gimbap on the 29th, I started experiencing high fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and muscle pain from the afternoon of the 30th... Knowing that so many people are suffering, I hope hygiene management will be thoroughly enforced."

Consumers presumed to have visited the gimbap store have left reviews expressing their distress.

"This is the first time I've ever had something like enteritis or food poisoning. Last Friday, I ordered through Baemin and ate with friends, and everyone who ate it had high fever and abdominal pain..." "Thank you for giving me food poisoning or enteritis" "After eating gimbap, my wife and I got food poisoning and my fever rose to 40 degrees Celsius," and so on.

According to industry sources, the two stores have been ordered to suspend operations, and hygiene inspections are being conducted on gimbap vendors in the area. However, due to the large number of visitors, the number of affected consumers is expected to rise.

◆ Hygiene complaints were also raised last August... "Not wearing gloves while preparing food"

Bundang District Office, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do.
Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, among the two Manyeo Gimbap stores in Bundang-gu where multiple suspected food poisoning cases were reported, one received administrative guidance from the city last August due to poor hygiene. This was three months after starting business in May of the same year.

According to Lee Ki-in, a member of the People Power Party and Seongnam City Council, who confirmed with Bundang District Office, the store filed a new business registration in May last year, and in August, a hygiene complaint was filed stating "not wearing gloves while preparing food and touching trash bins."

There was some criticism that this store was not included in the list when Seongnam City conducted hygiene inspections on 462 delivery food establishments in the district last June. However, a Seongnam City official explained, "The inspection was not targeted at gimbap specialty stores but mainly focused on chicken restaurants."

They added, "It appears that both stores had issues with the gimbap ingredients, but the materials sold at that time are no longer available."

Currently, health authorities have collected samples from patients, as well as cutting boards and utensils from the two stores, and have requested testing at the Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment. A detailed epidemiological investigation is underway, with results expected as early as the 9th or 10th.