Nghe An effectively implements measures to ensure food safety.
(Baonghean.vn) - In the first five months of 2024, the whole country experienced 36 food poisoning incidents, affecting 2,138 people and causing 6 deaths. Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of affected people increased by 1,432. Nghe An province, however, did not record any food poisoning incidents.
On the morning of May 21st, the Ministry of Health organized a nationwide online conference to strengthen food safety and prevent food poisoning. The conference was attended by representatives from central ministries and agencies, as well as 63 provincial and city-level locations.
The Nghệ An provincial delegation included representatives from the Provincial People's Council, the Department of Health, the Department of Industry and Trade, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Tourism, the Provincial Police, the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board, and the Nghệ An Market Management Department.
According to a report by the Ministry of Health, in the first five months of 2024, there were 36 food poisoning incidents nationwide, affecting 2,138 people and causing 6 deaths. Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of incidents increased by 4, the number of deaths decreased by 5, and the number of affected people increased by 1,432. Notably, the number of incidents involving more than 30 people increased by 3; and the number of incidents in collective kitchens in industrial zones and export processing zones increased by 1.
Some mass food poisoning incidents include: the Thu Ha bread shop in Soc Trang on February 24th with 150 people affected; the Tram Anh chicken rice restaurant on March 11th in Khanh Hoa with 369 people affected; the Co Bang bread shop on April 30th in Dong Nai with 547 people affected; the Shinwon Ebenezer Vietnam Co., Ltd. canteen on May 14th in Vinh Phuc with 438 people affected; and the Dechang Vietnam Co., Ltd. canteen on May 15th in Dong Nai with 95 people affected.
Investigations into the causes of food poisoning revealed that: A portion of production and business establishments did not fully and consistently comply with food safety regulations. Some agricultural businesses imported unregulated agricultural raw materials of uncontrolled quality to supply to other units and individuals.
To ensure food safety and prevent food poisoning in the coming period, the Permanent Deputy Minister of Health, Do Xuan Tuyen, requested that localities continue to strictly implement the directives, telegrams, and official letters of the Government and the Ministry of Health regarding strengthening the State management responsibility for food safety; and preventing and handling food poisoning incidents.
In this regard, leaders at all levels must be held responsible for any violations of food safety laws occurring in their areas. Local authorities need to implement strict inspection and monitoring measures for raw materials before processing, using only materials that have been inspected and comply with regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
People's Committees at all levels are paying attention to food safety management in their areas by strengthening and allocating sufficient human resources and funding; improving the capacity, efficiency, and effectiveness of management over small-scale food production and business establishments, street food vendors, food service businesses, and food safety in markets; directing strict control of the origin of agricultural raw materials; resolutely preventing establishments without food safety certificates from supplying food; and strengthening inspection, examination, and strict handling of violations.
Industrial park and export processing zone management boards and companies are determined not to sign contracts for the supply of raw materials, meals, or catering services with establishments that do not meet food safety standards or lack the required food safety certificates; and to promote the role and responsibility of organizations and associations in ensuring food safety and preventing food poisoning in agencies, companies, schools, and units.
In Nghe An province, no food poisoning incidents have been recorded since the beginning of the year. Nghe An has intensified its efforts to ensure food safety by strengthening communication activities and conducting inspections and monitoring. The province inspected 6,948 establishments, and imposed administrative penalties on 24 establishments, totaling over 526 million VND.
In the coming period, Nghe An will continue to effectively implement the directives of the Government and central ministries and agencies on ensuring food safety; promote information and communication activities and training on food safety; fully implement food contamination risk monitoring activities; strengthen inspection and post-inspection activities on compliance with food safety laws, especially for collective kitchens in schools, hospitals, industrial zones, and export processing zones.
