Not stopping at poisoning

Street food, snacks or fast food is a type of food that is processed and sold industrially, with the goal of being quick - convenient and high in calories (energy), using a lot of oil and spices, thereby becoming a favorite dish of many people, mainly children and students.

The number of stalls at school gates in all localities is growing more and more, regardless of legal regulations, with countless forms of sale. It is worth mentioning that most of these foods have unclear origins and do not ensure food hygiene and safety.

Snacks are a favorite of students of many ages. Photo: Ngoc Hoan

Recently, many cases of students getting food poisoning after eating food bought from unsafe street vendors have sounded the alarm about this food group.

However, the story does not stop at the risk of food poisoning, but the impact on the health of people who regularly consume this type of food, when its harmful effects do not come immediately (acute) but in a chronic manner, that is, "slow and steady" on the subject of students - the main force that creates the intellectual team in the future.

According to the health sector, this food group contains a series of toxic substances such as: preservatives, chemicals, additives, colorants; along with that, excess salt and sugar are detrimental to children's development, especially lacking micronutrients for the body's development needs, in the long term affecting children's development, causing metabolic disorders, obesity, etc. Snacks also make children bored with main meals, making children with weak physiques even more stunted.

In particular, toxic substances in food gradually accumulate in the body, causing chronic diseases in the long term, the most dangerous of which is cancer (stomach cancer, colon cancer, nasopharyngeal cancer, liver cancer, bone marrow cancer, etc.).

Street vendors “surround” students after school. Photo: Doan Anh

To protect the health of students, the authorities and local governments have taken drastic measures to prevent street vendors from "besieging" school gates. Recently, the People's Committee of Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa) - a locality where students have been hospitalized after eating street food - has sent a document to relevant units to inspect and handle the situation of encroachment on sidewalks and street vending in front of school gates, hospitals and headquarters of agencies and units in the city.

In particular, the People's Committee of Nha Trang City requires schools at all levels in the city to arrange forces to inspect, monitor, and promptly detect street vending in front of school gates. In particular, pay attention to school arrival and departure times; when detecting cases of street vending, notify the authorities for timely handling.

But as mentioned, these types of shops have countless forms of sale, regardless of regulations. Therefore, only education and setting an example for children about food safety, saying no to "dirty" food can end this danger.

Some parents are also lenient in using food in front of the school gate for their children. Photo: Ngoc Hoan

There are still a minority of parents who "indulge" their children by buying them snacks and street food after school as "rewards", but do not think about the toxins that are gradually seeping into their children's bodies.

To eliminate this danger, it is necessary to have the participation of both parents and students, working together with the authorities and schools to achieve feasible results.

Parents need to educate their children to stay away from unhygienic street vendors, foods of unknown origin, and foods that do not ensure food safety; limit their children's use of snacks and street foods, but instead prepare breakfast for their children at home or choose restaurants that meet the conditions. Parents also set an example for their children by not using foods of unknown origin and foods that do not ensure food safety as mentioned above.

For street vendors, food production and trading establishments must strictly comply with the provisions of law on the origin of raw materials, sanitary conditions of establishments, and equipment serving food production and trading. Absolutely do not produce or trade fake or unsafe food; do not use toxic colorants, additives, or chemicals not on the permitted list to produce or process food.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/thuc-pham-ban-bua-vay-truong-hoc-khong-dung-o-ngo-doc-319235.html