At least 170 employees at a clothing factory in the northern province of Thai Binh were hospitalized for food poisoning after eating a lunch at the company on June 1 supplied by a caterer.

dThe workers at Nienshing factory in Phuc Khanh Industrial Zone are being treated at three hospitals, Thai Binh, Lam Hoa and Hoang An, Dan Viet newspaper reported Monday.

The surge of patients overloaded the hospitals, leaving three to a bed. Many more patients were laid out on the hospital floors.

Dan Viet reported that the workers had come to believe the mass poisoning was caused by a company lunch served on Sunday.

The company hired the Dung Hop Company in Thai Binh Town to provide the meal at VND10,000 (US$0.47) per person.

Dung Hop served an omelet, minced pork and cabbage.