Nghe An effectively implements food safety work
(Baonghean.vn) - In the first 5 months of 2024, there were 36 cases of food poisoning nationwide, 2,138 people were infected, 6 people died. Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of infected people increased by 1,432 people. Nghe An province alone did not record any cases of poisoning.
On the morning of May 21, the Ministry of Health held a national online conference to strengthen food safety and food poisoning prevention. The conference was attended by representatives of central ministries, branches and 63 provincial and municipal bridges.
Nghe An province's bridge has representatives of the Provincial People's Council, Department of Health, Department of Industry and Trade, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Education and Training, Department of Tourism, Provincial Police, Southeast Economic Zone Management Board and Nghe An Market Management Department.
According to the Ministry of Health's report, in the first 5 months of 2024, there were 36 food poisoning cases nationwide, 2,138 people were infected, 6 people died. Compared to the same period in 2023, the number of poisoning cases increased by 4 cases, 5 deaths decreased, the number of people infected increased by 1,432 people... Notably, the number of poisoning cases with more than 30 people infected increased by 3 cases; the number of poisoning cases in collective kitchens in industrial parks and export processing zones increased by 1 case.
Some of the mass food poisoning cases are: Thu Ha bakery in Soc Trang on February 24 with 150 people infected; Tram Anh chicken rice restaurant on March 11 in Khanh Hoa with 369 people infected; Co Bang bakery on April 30 in Dong Nai with 547 people infected; Shinwon Ebenezer Vietnam Co., Ltd.'s collective kitchen on May 14 in Vinh Phuc with 438 people infected; Dechang Vietnam Co., Ltd.'s collective kitchen on May 15 in Dong Nai with 95 people infected.
Investigation into the cause of food poisoning shows that: The implementation of food safety regulations by a number of production and business establishments is not complete and regular. Some agricultural businesses import floating agricultural materials, without quality control, to supply to units and people.
To ensure food safety and prevent food poisoning in the coming time, Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen requested: Localities continue to strictly implement directives, telegrams, and official dispatches of the Government and the Ministry of Health in strengthening the responsibility of State management of food safety; preventing and handling food poisoning.
In particular, leaders at all levels must be responsible for any violations of food safety laws in the area. Localities need to implement measures to closely inspect and monitor raw materials before processing, and only use controlled raw materials that comply with regulations of the Department of Agriculture and Industry and Trade.
People's Committees at all levels pay attention to food safety management in the area by strengthening and allocating adequate human resources and funding; improving the capacity, effectiveness and efficiency of management of small-scale food production and trading establishments, street food, food service establishments, and food safety at markets in the area; directing strict control of the origin of agricultural raw materials; resolutely not allowing establishments without food safety certificates to supply food; strengthening inspection, examination and strict handling of violations.
Management boards of industrial parks, export processing zones, and companies are determined not to sign contracts for the supply of raw materials, meals, and catering services with establishments that do not meet food safety conditions or do not have certificates of food safety eligibility as prescribed; promote the role and responsibility of organizations and unions in ensuring food safety and preventing food poisoning at agencies, companies, schools, and units.
In Nghe An, since the beginning of the year, the whole province has not recorded any cases of food poisoning. Nghe An has stepped up food safety assurance by increasing communication activities and inspection and supervision of food safety. The whole province has inspected 6,948 establishments, handled administrative violations at 24 establishments, with a total fine of over 526 million VND.
In the coming time, Nghe An will continue to effectively implement the directions of the Government, ministries, departments and central branches on ensuring food safety; promote communication activities and training on food safety; fully deploy activities to monitor food contamination risks; strengthen inspection and post-inspection activities on compliance with legal regulations on food safety, especially for collective kitchens of schools, hospitals, industrial parks and export processing zones.
