Is there a problem with Vinh City's food safety inspection capacity?

(Baonghean.vn) - That was the question raised by the interdisciplinary inspection team on food safety in Nghe An province after inspecting a number of food businesses on the afternoon of March 8.

The joint inspection team of Nghe An province inspected the Hoa Huong Son goat meat restaurant right in front of Vinh Railway Station, Truong Chinh Street, Vinh City. Photo: Thanh Son.

On the afternoon of March 8, the interdisciplinary inspection team on food safety of Nghe An province inspected a number of hot pot restaurants on Ho Tung Mau street and the goat meat restaurant Hoa Huong Son owned by Mr. Ho Van Hoa right in front of Vinh Station gate, Truong Chinh street, Vinh city.

During an inspection at the Hoa Huong Son goat meat restaurant, the interdisciplinary team discovered that the goat meat restaurant did not ensure environmental hygiene conditions such as not separating the toilets and other sources of pollution. This violates Point a, Clause 2, Article 21, Decree 178/2015/ND-CP of the Government regulating administrative sanctions on food safety.

The area for preparing fresh food and processing and dividing food at the restaurant is very narrow. Photo: Thanh Son.

The kitchen area is damp, dusty, and has very poor hygiene conditions. Photo: Thanh Son.

The toilet is located right in the processing area. Photo: Thanh Son.

Checking the administrative procedures of this business household, the delegation discovered many inconsistencies: Ho Van Hoa's business registration certificate was issued by the Department of Finance - Planning, Vinh City People's Committee with number 27A8017369 for the first time on April 4, 2016; The certificate of food safety qualified facility was issued by the Department of Health on December 28, 2015. This means that an unregistered business facility was granted a certificate!

Ho Van Hoa Business Registration Certificate issued by the Department of Finance and Planning, Vinh City People's Committee with number 27A8017369 for the first time on April 4, 2016. Photo: Thanh Son.

The certificate of food safety qualified facility was issued by the Department of Health on December 28, 2015. Photo: Thanh Son.

In addition, the Minutes of food safety assessment for Hoa Huong Son restaurant established by the assessment team including the Department of Health and Vinh City Medical Center on December 21, 2015 stated: The total area of ​​the facility is 3,544 m²; the area of ​​food processing and food distribution is 120 m². Evaluation: cool location, good ventilation, solid and clean facilities. Conclusion: Facility meets food safety conditions.

During the actual inspection, the total area of ​​the facility is not more than 120 m²; total area of ​​food processing and distribution area is less than 10 m². Temporary facilities, seriously unsanitary.

The problem is that, despite this fact, in the most recent inspection of this goat meat restaurant on April 11, 2016, the Food Safety Inspection Team of Vinh City People's Committee still concluded: The establishment complied with regulations to ensure food safety and hygiene!

The minutes of food safety assessment for Hoa Huong Son restaurant established on December 21, 2015 stated: The total area of ​​the facility is 3,544 m2; the area of ​​food processing and food distribution is 120 m2Photo: Thanh Son.

At the end of February 2017, the interdisciplinary inspection team on food safety of Nghe An province inspected two food service businesses on Le Mao extended street, Vinh Tan ward, which lacked food sample storage cabinets but were still granted a certificate of food safety eligibility by the Department of Health and Vinh City People's Committee.

After inspecting and discovering many shortcomings, the interdisciplinary inspection team on food safety in Nghe An province raised the question: Is there a problem with the food safety inspection capacity or the responsibility of implementing state management on food safety of Vinh city?

Thanh Son