Convenience is associated with food safety hazards
Sidewalk stalls in front of school gates have long been an indispensable part of school life. However, behind that convenience are food safety hazards that parents, students and schools need to be aware of.
Data from the Food Safety Department, Ministry of Health shows that up to 70 - 80% of street food, including school snacks, are identified as being contaminated with bacteria such as E.coli - a type of bacteria that causes diarrhea, intestinal diseases and cholera. In particular, chemicals, pesticides, growth promoters, etc. remaining in foods will slowly seep into the body, then accumulate and cause cancer.
According to Kinh te & Do thi reporters, in front of many schools in Hanoi, sidewalk stalls, mobile food carts, and street vendors appear everywhere, and their activities are difficult to control. The stalls selling a variety of snacks such as sausages, fried sour spring rolls, cheese sticks, skewered meat, mixed rice paper, candy, etc. always attract a large number of students because of their attractive flavors, eye-catching colors, and affordable prices.
In the role of students buying favorite dishes of schoolboys and girls, we were "overwhelmed" by the processing method as well as the price of these snacks near a school gate in Hanoi. Through observation, the price of "dirty skewers" is sold at a fluctuating price of only 2,000 - 8,000 VND/skewer; many types of soft drinks of all colors and flavors are only priced at 5,000 - 15,000 VND/cup;...
Worryingly, these food items are often processed in a sketchy manner with many ingredients of unknown origin, no brand labels, etc. The frying oil is often reused many times and turns black, posing the risk of generating toxic substances.
The processing procedures at these establishments are also noteworthy as processing tools are often used to mix raw and cooked foods without being thoroughly cleaned. Vendors directly handle food with their bare hands; careless storage methods without covering allow dirt and insects to easily penetrate;…
Even at a "dirty skewer" shop at the intersection of Lo Duc and Pham Dinh Ho streets (Hai Ba Trung district), near Le Ngoc Han Primary School, reporters saw the image of a rag used by the vendor to clean the spring roll table - the place that directly contacts food - being used to wipe hands and processing tools such as knives, scissors or to absorb excess oil in the tray containing cooked food.
Because they cannot find a suitable location, many street vendors sell near unsanitary areas such as trash cans and sewers. Not only that, there is also a phenomenon where skewers that have been thrown on the ground by customers are picked up by the shop owners for reuse. Although it is not yet possible to verify whether these skewers are cleaned and processed according to food safety standards afterwards, the lack of awareness of the vendors is enough to show that they ignore food safety regulations and business ethics for the sake of profit.
The whole community joins hands
In recent times, food safety assurance in schools has always been of interest and focus to Hanoi City. Since August 2024, the City has begun implementing a thematic plan "Strengthening food safety control in and around school gates in Hanoi" for educational institutions throughout the area.
Head of the Hanoi Food Safety and Hygiene Department Dang Thanh Phong said that from August 2024 to the end of August 2025, the whole city will focus on ensuring food safety inside and outside schools. Hanoi will review educational facilities, collective kitchens, and school canteens under its management.
At the same time, the authorities will investigate, review, and regularly and continuously update food service establishments, street food establishments, and grocery stores that sell prepackaged foods, ready-to-eat processed foods according to each industry and food item around school gates. However, the control from the authorities will not be effective without the cooperation of families and schools.
To minimize risks and protect children from food poisoning at school gates, Dr. Nguyen Trong An - former Deputy Director of the Department of Child Protection and Care, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that the role of family education is the most important factor.
Doctor Nguyen Trong An noted that parents should equip their children with basic knowledge about distinguishing between dirty and clean food, identifying reputable addresses and staying away from places that sell food that does not ensure food safety.
At the same time, schools also need to take stronger action. Not only stopping at advising students and parents not to use street food of unknown origin, schools should also strengthen supervision and proactively coordinate with authorities to strictly handle businesses that violate food safety standards.
Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/canh-bao-an-toan-thuc-pham-truoc-cong-truong-hoc.html
Comment (0)