Increase food safety inspections in the final months of the year.

In the last months of the year, people's demand for food increases. This is also the time when counterfeit and imitation goods, as well as products of unknown origin, easily infiltrate the market, posing a risk to food safety.

In the last months of the year, people's demand for food increases. This is also the time when counterfeit and imitation goods, as well as products of unknown origin, easily infiltrate the market, posing a risk to food safety.

Increase inspections to detect violations.

According to a report from the Ministry of Health , in October 2024, there were 10 food poisoning incidents nationwide, affecting 183 people, including one death. Overall, in the first 10 months of 2024, there were 99 food poisoning incidents affecting 3,561 people, including 12 deaths.

In the last months of the year, people's demand for food increases. This is also the time when counterfeit and imitation goods, as well as products of unknown origin, easily infiltrate the market, posing a risk to food safety.

Traditionally, the food market becomes bustling in the final months of the year in preparation for the holiday season. The increased demand for food products also brings with it a higher risk of food poisoning. Therefore, if not properly controlled, the food safety situation will become increasingly complex.

Currently, the trading and transportation of food of unknown origin and substandard quality still occurs, especially unsafe foods such as chips, sausages, and animal organs.

Criminals often commit fraud by altering labels or altering packaging to extend the expiration date in order to sell the goods.

Tet food, characterized by traditional dishes and processed foods such as banh chung (sticky rice cake), banh tet (cylindrical sticky rice cake), gio cha (pork sausage), jam, fruits, poultry, seafood, etc., is consumed heavily during this time.

This is also a time when unsanitary food production and processing practices may increase due to high demand and laxer regulations.

Authorities have intensified inspections, detecting and strictly handling many violations, preventing unsafe food from entering the market, and protecting consumer health.

According to the Hanoi Food Safety and Hygiene Sub-Department (Hanoi Department of Health ), from the beginning of 2024 to the present, the sub-department has inspected 5,820 street food businesses, including those at festivals, fairs, tourist areas, and public places.

Accordingly, the local agency recorded that 83.7% of establishments met food safety standards, while over 16% had violations. Those establishments that violated regulations were fined by authorities and required to rectify the issues to ensure food safety and hygiene.

In addition, authorities also inspected 35,146 food service establishments in the city, of which 84.5% met food safety and hygiene requirements; those that did not meet the standards were reminded and fined according to regulations.

Preventing the proliferation of "dirty" food.

During food safety inspections conducted at the end of last year, authorities discovered and dealt with numerous violations, destroyed thousands of substandard products, and issued warnings and penalties to production facilities that did not meet food hygiene and safety requirements.

However, inspection work still faces several major challenges, such as a lack of decisiveness in handling violations, a shortage of personnel during inspection campaigns, and some production facilities still not strictly complying with food safety and hygiene regulations.

Furthermore, detecting food quality violations can sometimes be challenging due to the difficulty in clearly identifying harmful substances, especially those chemicals used in food processing that can be easily concealed.

To ensure food safety and prevent food poisoning incidents in the city, Mr. Dang Thanh Phong stated that food safety inspections and checks will continue to be strengthened.

In particular, the city will focus on post-announcement inspections, conducting surprise checks, and resolutely handling administrative violations in the field of food safety according to regulations.

Along with strengthening inspections and checks, the city always identifies public awareness campaigns as a top priority in ensuring food safety. Therefore, this activity will be further intensified through various forms during the year-end period.

The awareness campaign focuses on legal regulations regarding food safety; prohibited behaviors in food production and business; and penalties for food safety violations. This aims to raise awareness among organizations and individuals involved in food production, business, and distribution, as well as equip the public with the knowledge to protect themselves.

Hanoi will resolutely prevent the circulation of unsafe food products in the market. Absolutely no unsafe products will be allowed to circulate; food production and service establishments that do not meet food safety standards will be required to take corrective measures before being allowed to continue operating.

In addition, we will provide information on food safety compliance and non-compliance through mass media so that people can be aware and choose safe food, and boycott unsafe food.

According to Chu Xuan Kien, Director of the Hanoi Market Management Department, in the last months of the year, the city's market management forces will focus on inspecting "hot spots" for commercial fraud, while also paying attention to preventing the sale of counterfeit and substandard goods on e-commerce platforms.

This is also one of the areas causing much concern due to its difficult-to-control nature and the rapid development of online trading platforms.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/tang-kiem-tra-an-toan-thuc-pham-nhung-thang-cuoi-nam-d229915.html