Thai social networks have been buzzing with warnings against eating steamed chicken with rice (khao man gai) served with chicken blood tofu, which is said to contain the bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus. 

fAccording to Dr. Surasing Wisarutratana of Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office, last year around 100 people in Chiang Mai suffered from food poisoning caused by steamed chicken with rice, but officials examined and supposedly dealt with these problems already.

Khao man gai is like fast food, said Dr. Surasing. If it is not cooked properly, it can contain a variety of different types of bacteria, including Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Khao man gai should be served fresh and hot. If it is left out for over four hours after cooking, it can cause food poisoning.

Dr. Surasing advises consumers to take caution when selecting restaurants, and to avoid food that has been sitting out for extended periods of time. Chicken blood tofu should be boiled in hot water (75 degrees Celsius and up) for at least 15 minutes prior to consumption, he added.

Meanwhile, according to Dr. Sopon Mekthon of the Department of Disease Control, Vibrio parahaemolyticus has been found in chicken blood tofu only. People may still eat chicken but should avoid blood tofu, which is not sterilised. Dr. Sopon also suggested that cooks take heed to separate knives and chopping blocks for chicken blood tofu from other equipment to prevent food poisoning.