Five-year-old dies after eating street food in Phnom Penh

A five-year-old boy has died and his family hospitalised after eating a cabbage bought from a street vendor in Phnom Penh, raising fresh concerns over food safety in the capital.

The tragedy unfolded on Friday evening in Borey Kamakor village, Dangkor district. According to police, the boy’s sister purchased the cabbage from a cart near Wat Choeung 2 and cooked it with pork to make a soup. Witnesses said the vegetable began bubbling unusually in the pot, but the family went ahead with the meal.

Within minutes, all five family members suffered violent diarrhoea and vomiting. They were rushed to Dangkor Referral Hospital, but the youngest child, Thet Kevin, was in critical condition. He was transferred to Kantha Bopha Hospital, where he died later that night.

Authorities have yet to confirm whether the soup was contaminated, but samples are being examined. An autopsy conducted by Dr Nong Sovannarat concluded the boy died from severe diarrhoea and vomiting. Police investigators are working with the Science and Technology Office to determine the cause.

Food poisoning incidents are not uncommon in Cambodia, where street food remains a staple for many families. However, this case has shocked locals, highlighting the risks posed by unregulated vendors and the urgent need for stronger food safety measures.

Officials say they will continue to investigate the source of the cabbage and whether toxic substances were involved. For now, the community mourns the loss of a child whose family meal turned into a fatal tragedy.

-2026-06-15