No attention paid to food safety management at Bach Ma Temple festival

People and tourists offer incense at Bach Ma Temple. Photo: Minh Chi

According to a report from the People's Committee of Thanh Chuong district, there are 457 inventoried relics in the district, of which 61 relics are ranked, including 12 national relics and 50 provincial relics.

Regarding festivals, there are 4 festivals in the area and only Bach Ma Temple Festival is licensed. Bach Ma Temple Festival is held on 2 days, March 25 and 26 (ie February 9 and 10 of the lunar calendar).

Through the survey, it shows that the Bach Ma Temple Festival is organized systematically and systematically by the People's Committee of Thanh Chuong District in coordination with the People's Committee of Vo Liet Commune, from the planning of the areas for organizing the festival and the ceremony, including the areas for arranging services. The work of propaganda, guiding tourists to participate in the festival and security and order is focused on; especially keeping the festival space clean and civilized.

What's new this year is that the festival organizers have organized a photo exhibition about the movement to build a cultural life and cultural families; installed 4 security cameras and a free wifi system.

The festival is organized with a variety of activities: football, volleyball, pot smashing, wrestling, poetry reading, beauty contest, etc.; creating a joyful, exciting festival space and truly a festival of the masses.

Food sold at Bach Ma Temple festival does not ensure food safety and hygiene. Photo: Minh Chi

In addition to the positive aspects of the festival, the working group of the Provincial People's Council's Culture and Social Committee also pointed out many shortcomings and limitations. Specifically, according to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan - Deputy Head of the Provincial People's Council's Culture and Social Committee, although the regulations of the Provincial People's Committee only allow each relic to place 3 donation boxes, at Bach Ma Temple, it was observed that 5 donation boxes were too many. On the other hand, although the district directed the implementation of "4 no's" at the festival, however, according to the delegation's survey, there were still disguised gambling activities through the dart game, 2,000 VND/turn.

Also concerned about the shortcomings at the festival, Deputy Chief of Office of the Provincial People's Council Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa raised the issue of management, especially food safety and hygiene, because the food and beverage businesses are mainly people from other places, some of which do not have labels, packaging, or origin.

Wrestling is the festival activity that attracts the most people and tourists at the Bach Ma Temple Festival in 2018. Photo: Minh Chi

Many issues were also raised by some members of the Provincial People's Council survey delegation regarding the management of spontaneous car and motorbike parking service prices at the festival; the arrangement of entertainment services for children outside the temple area is unreasonable, being arranged on the traffic safety corridor...

Acknowledging the shortcomings and limitations pointed out by the survey team, Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Long - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Vo Liet commune also admitted that the locality still has shortcomings and has not paid attention to managing food hygiene and safety at the festival.

Through the survey, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan - Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council, Head of the survey team, acknowledged that the direction and organization of the Bach Ma Temple festival in Thanh Chuong district was methodical, scientific and fully complied with the regulations on festival organization.

The survey team of the Provincial People's Council discussed with the leaders of Thanh Chuong District People's Committee some issues that need attention at the festival. Photo: Minh Chi

The Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Committee of the Provincial People's Council also said that currently in the district there are 3 unlicensed festivals, which is not in accordance with regulations, so attention should be paid to this issue.

Regarding activities at Bach Ma Temple festival, it is necessary to pay attention to planning service areas outside the temple area to ensure order and safety, avoiding arranging them on traffic safety corridors as is currently the case.

On the other hand, the district also needs to pay attention to approving organizations and individuals participating in activities at festivals to ensure full documentation and procedures according to regulations, especially ensuring food safety and hygiene for organizations and individuals providing food services and ensuring child safety for organizations and individuals participating in game services.

The Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council also requested the Department of Culture and Sports to re-examine the licensing of entertainment services at festivals./.