Ministry of Health recommends measures to prevent food poisoning after storms

Faced with the impact of storms and floods on human health, the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) warns that storms, floods and unusual weather changes are favorable conditions for food to be easily contaminated with microorganisms.

Flooded farming and livestock areas lead to crushed, damaged, and contaminated vegetables, tubers, and fruits; infected livestock and poultry, which can lead to the risk of food poisoning when consumed.

Meanwhile, some people take advantage of the rainy and stormy season to mix and sell unsafe foods, foods of unknown origin, fake foods, expired foods, etc.

According to medical experts, food poisoning not only occurs due to using contaminated water sources but also due to eating meat from livestock and poultry that died due to flooding, or were sick or died of unknown causes.

On the other hand, people in rural and mountainous areas sometimes still have the habit of using wild mushrooms or vegetables, fruits, and insects that grow after rain and storms for food, leading to the risk of poisoning due to natural toxins.

Poisoning can occur within minutes or hours, or even 1-2 days after consuming unsafe food. Mild cases of poisoning may recover after a few days, but severe cases that are not treated promptly may face the risk of death.

Doctor Duong Ngoc Van, Medlatec General Hospital, noted that if you have a stomachache after eating certain foods, you should be careful because it could be a sign of food poisoning. Food poisoning can cause harmful organisms to produce toxins that irritate the lining of the intestines and stomach.

This is the reason for inflammation and pain in the stomach and abdominal pain. In addition, people with food poisoning often experience vomiting and nausea. In fact, many people suffer from prolonged vomiting. Along with that, diarrhea, fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and headache are also typical and common symptoms of food poisoning.

In particular, if you have loose stools more than 3 times in 24 hours, there is a high possibility of poisoning. Frequent diarrhea can easily cause dehydration, severe mineral deficiency, and low blood pressure, so you should see a doctor for timely treatment to avoid unfortunate consequences.

Regarding the work of the Food Safety Department, the Ministry of Health has issued Official Dispatch No. 2273/ATTP-NDTT on strengthening food safety and food poisoning prevention during storm and flood seasons.

Therefore, the current situation of food poisoning tends to increase due to food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins in poisonous mushrooms, insects, trees, wild fruits, seafood...

The main causes are favorable weather conditions for the development of animals and plants containing natural toxins; environmental pollution and lack of clean water for processing and cleaning utensils.

The demand for fresh food, unheated food, street food, soft drinks, ice is increasing in families, collective kitchens, crowded meals, travel, etc.

To proactively ensure food safety and prevent food poisoning in the coming time, the Food Safety Department requests the Department of Health of provinces and centrally-run cities, the Food Safety Management Board of provinces, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Bac Ninh to coordinate with relevant functional units to urgently develop a work plan to ensure food safety during the storm and flood season in the management area.

Along with that, units strengthen inspection and supervision of food safety for food production and trading establishments, focusing on instant food production establishments, beverage and ice trading establishments, food service establishments, collective kitchens in schools, hospitals, industrial parks, export processing zones, etc.

On the other hand, units detect early and strictly handle violations of food safety regulations and publicize violations on the media to promptly warn the community.

In particular, units should increase information and dissemination of knowledge about food safety, food poisoning prevention, and foodborne diseases to raise responsibility for changing unsafe food behaviors.

Focusing on propaganda and guidance for people in selecting, preparing, processing, preserving and using safe food.

For areas at high risk of being affected by storms and floods, it is necessary to monitor forecasts and developments of storms and floods in the area and proactively plan to stockpile food, processed food, bottled water, vitamins, medicines, and medical disinfectants.

In addition, the units propagate to food production and business establishments and consumers to absolutely not use livestock and poultry that died of disease or died of unknown causes as food or to process food; to eat and drink thoroughly cooked food; and to disinfect water used for eating and processing food, especially during storms and floods.

Units should propagate for people to absolutely not collect, catch, trade, or use poisonous animals and plants such as poisonous mushrooms, strange and poisonous insects, puffer fish, sea urchins, strange snails, strange plants and fruits, etc.; pay attention to ensuring safety in processing and using toad meat.

The Food Safety Department recommends that units disseminate regulations on ensuring food safety for food service establishments and street food businesses in schools, hospitals, industrial parks, export processing zones, etc.

The unit requires establishments to absolutely not use food ingredients or food products that are spoiled, damaged, moldy, of unknown origin, or expired for processing or business.

The Food Safety Department requests units to direct, guide and coordinate with preventive medical facilities, treatment facilities and related units to strengthen the monitoring of food poisoning and foodborne diseases in the community.

In particular, coordinate with central and local authorities to control food safety and quality, and prevent food, foodstuffs, and drinking water provided by organizations and individuals to support people in flood-affected areas from being spoiled, moldy, crushed, or expired from reaching people.

Head of the Hanoi Food Safety and Hygiene Department Dang Thanh Phong recommends that food production and trading establishments and consumers absolutely do not use food soaked in water, spoiled, moldy food; absolutely do not use livestock, poultry, and aquatic products that died of disease or died of unknown causes to make food or process food.

Families also need to pay attention to "Eat cooked food, drink boiled water". All food and drinks must be boiled before eating and drinking; wash hands before eating and drinking and after using the toilet. Store processed food well, prevent insects, disease-causing animals and flies from entering.

Use clean, safe water to prepare food, drink and wash food preparation utensils. If you have any of the symptoms of food poisoning, go to the nearest medical facility immediately for examination, consultation and timely treatment.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/bo-y-te-khuyen-cao-bien-phap-phong-ngo-doc-thuc-pham-sau-mua-bao-d224583.html