Ministry of Health directs urgent investigation into suspected poisoning of 29 students after lunch at school

The Food Safety Department ( Ministry of Health ) said it had received an initial report from the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Department about a suspected food poisoning incident at Vo Thi Sau Primary School, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Specifically, after eating lunch on April 9, 29 students showed symptoms of stomachache, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea.

Faced with the above situation, the Food Safety Department has issued an official dispatch requesting the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Department to urgently organize an investigation and trace the origin of food to clearly identify the source of raw materials and food for the processing facility suspected of causing poisoning; take food samples and specimens for testing to find the cause.

At the same time, temporarily suspend the operation of meal processing facilities suspected of causing food poisoning if there is a risk of further food poisoning; strictly handle violations of food safety regulations (if any) and publicize the results to promptly warn the community.

At the same time, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety needs to strengthen management measures, especially in collective kitchens and food service establishments to limit the risk of food poisoning.

Strengthen propaganda and guidance for collective kitchens and food service establishments to strictly control the origin and source of food ingredients, ensure hygiene during the process of preliminary processing, processing, and transportation of food, food safety conditions, three-step food inspection, and food sample storage, etc.

The Department also requested the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety to seriously implement the instructions of the Ministry of Health according to Directive No. 38/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister on strengthening food poisoning prevention, and promptly report the results of the investigation and handle the case in accordance with regulations.

Previously, on the evening of April 9, parents of children studying at this school reported that many students had symptoms of vomiting, stomachaches, etc. and were taken to the hospital by their families. Parents suspected that the students had stomachaches after eating lunch at school because the children studied and ate lunch at school all day.

A representative of the Department of Education and Training of District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, said that the health condition of the student suspected of food poisoning at Vo Thi Sau Primary School has stabilized. Authorities are currently taking samples to find the cause of the stomachache and vomiting.

It is known that Vo Thi Sau Primary School has a contract with an industrial catering unit to serve boarding meals for students.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/bo-y-te-chi-dao-khan-truong-dieu-tra-vu-29-hoc-sinh-nghi-ngo-ngo-doc-sau-bua-trua-tai-truong-post871849.html