Food safety - concerns remain.

In recent times, alongside the achievements, food safety assurance still faces many shortcomings and limitations. The situation of food poisoning nationwide is becoming increasingly complex, especially food poisoning in company, enterprise, and school canteens, and food poisoning from street food.

The inter-agency inspection team of the Provincial Food Safety Steering Committee conducted an inspection at Mandala Hotel and Service Management Joint Stock Company, Hoa Binh branch, Mo Da area, Bo town (Kim Boi district) during the Lunar New Year and Spring Festival 2025.

An alarming reality.

In 2024, the whole country recorded 135 food poisoning incidents affecting 4,936 people, with 24 deaths. Notably, 31 food poisoning incidents involved more than 30 people, mainly in collective kitchens and street food vendors. Some street food businesses sell large quantities of food but have not received sufficient inspection and control.

According to statistics from the Provincial Food Safety and Hygiene Department, in 2024, the province experienced 2 food poisoning incidents, including one mass food poisoning incident affecting over 30 people.

In particular, one of the most shocking incidents recently involved companies in Hoa Binh province registering and self-declaring counterfeit milk products. A representative from the Department of Health stated that over the past three years, four branches of these companies have submitted applications for and self-declared a total of 305 products. Specifically, two branches, located at 335 Tran Hung Dao Street, Quynh Lam Ward, Hoa Binh City, belong to Hacofood Group Joint Stock Company and Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company; the remaining two branches, belonging to Big Four Pharma International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company and BFF Medical Nutrition Joint Stock Company, are located at 10 Da Hop Adjacent Area, Group 12, Huu Nghi Ward, Hoa Binh City. The Department of Health has inspected these businesses and coordinated with the Food Safety and Hygiene Sub-Department to review documents and assess compliance with regulations on product declaration and post-inspection of the aforementioned milk products. In reality, companies only carry out the declaration procedures locally, while production and consumption take place elsewhere, making post-inspection difficult.

Discussing this issue, Ms. Bui Thu Hang, Director of the Department of Health, affirmed that there is a "loophole" in the way businesses declare quality standards through "self-declaration," and post-inspection work also faces many difficulties...

Given the reality of food poisoning incidents and the widespread sale of counterfeit food products on the market and social media without quality control, people are understandably confused and worried. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, 45, a housewife in Huu Nghi ward (Hoa Binh city), shared: "I regularly buy milk for my family through online sales channels. After hearing about counterfeit milk, I am very confused and worried about my family's health. I hope that the authorities will exercise stricter control so that consumers do not have to live in constant anxiety..."

More decisive action is needed.

In response to this situation, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 40/CD-TTg on April 17, 2025, regarding the handling of the production and distribution of counterfeit milk. Accordingly, the Prime Minister requested relevant ministries and agencies to strengthen management, promptly detect, prevent, and strictly handle acts of producing and trading counterfeit food, including counterfeit milk. Provincial and city People's Committees are directed to focus on reviewing and inspecting compliance with regulations on ensuring food safety for milk products in their areas, and strictly handle violations in accordance with regulations. In addition, they are to strengthen management measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of food safety management.

Not only is the management of dairy products being strengthened, but food safety is being addressed across all sectors, from production and processing to business. In particular, the province is currently organizing activities for the Food Safety Action Month from April 15th to May 15th, 2025. Along with this, the Provincial People's Committee continues to direct departments, agencies, and localities to thoroughly understand and decisively implement the directives of the Central Government and the province on food safety. This includes strengthening inspection, supervision, and education to raise awareness, define responsibilities, and ensure action among Party committees, organizations, officials, Party members, and the people in ensuring food security and safety in collective kitchens, food service establishments, and street food; resolutely combating and strictly handling organizations, individuals, and production and business establishments that violate food safety regulations.

Directing companies, businesses, household businesses, food production, processing and trading establishments, especially companies and businesses with collective kitchens, industrial meal providers, restaurants, eateries and street food vendors, to raise their sense of responsibility and strictly comply with legal regulations on food safety...

In particular, every citizen needs to raise their awareness of self-protection of health, choosing and using food with clear origins and ensuring food safety and hygiene. Actively participate in monitoring, detecting, and reporting violations of food safety regulations to the authorities.

Huong Lan

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/274/200927/An-toan-thuc-pham-con-nhung-noi-lo.htm