Don't stock up on too much food during Tet.

The Food Safety Department, Ministry of Health recommends that people should not "stockpile too much" or buy food of unknown origin during Tet.

The Food Safety Department, Ministry of Health recommends that people should not "stockpile too much" or buy food of unknown origin during Tet.

Lunar New Year is a time when demand for food increases, especially for items such as meat, fish, cakes, jams, alcohol and nuts.

Illustration photo.

However, according to Dr. Tran Viet Nga, Director of the Department of Food Safety (Ministry of Health), people should not stockpile too much or buy food of unknown origin during Tet. Food needs to be selected consciously and stored properly to ensure health and avoid food poisoning.

The Food Safety Department recommends that consumers pay attention to some important issues when shopping for food, such as not buying food of unknown origin. Especially food without labels or without ensuring regulations on origin. Business establishments need to comply with standards on raw materials and processing procedures.

Pay attention to food preservation: Perishable foods such as ham, sausage, sausages... need to be preserved in suitable cold temperature conditions.

Improper storage can lead to food poisoning. Processed or vacuum-packed foods can also pose a risk if not stored properly.

Check the expiry date and quality of prepackaged foods: For prepackaged foods such as cakes, jams, candies, etc., consumers need to carefully check the expiry date, origin and full invoice and documents before purchasing.

Leftover food from the previous meal: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), when reusing leftover food, people need to boil it thoroughly for at least 5 minutes to ensure safety.

Director Tran Viet Nga emphasized that food production and trading establishments need to strictly comply with food hygiene and safety regulations, from processing to preservation and distribution.

In particular, the origin of raw materials must be clear, the processing must ensure quality, and no additives outside the list permitted by the Ministry of Health must be used.

The Food Safety Department also recommends that businesses need to raise awareness of their responsibility towards public health, ensuring that products serving the Lunar New Year are absolutely safe, so that consumers can enjoy the holiday season without worrying about health issues.

Right from the beginning of December 2024, when the festive season began to bustle, the Central Interdisciplinary Steering Committee on Food Safety deployed food safety inspection and supervision activities in 10 key provinces and cities.

Director Tran Viet Nga said that inspections will be strictly carried out, especially on items consumed in large quantities during Tet such as confectionery, ham, wine, beer and consumer products in supermarkets and grocery stores. The inspection teams will not only check product quality but also strictly handle violations of food safety.

In addition to inspection activities, the Food Safety Department also launched two important campaigns to protect public health, such as a communication campaign to raise consumer awareness about how to choose and preserve safe food.

Through various propaganda methods, people will be equipped with knowledge about food safety standards, how to detect violations and related penalties.

Inspection campaign: The inspection team will focus on items that are strongly consumed during Tet such as cakes, jams, ham, and processed foods.

The Food Safety Department will coordinate with relevant ministries and branches such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the police to inspect food production, processing and preservation at business establishments.

Although the Lunar New Year is a time of joy and reunion, ensuring food safety is an issue that cannot be taken lightly. Choosing the right food, preserving it properly and consuming it responsibly will help people protect their own health and that of their families, while contributing to building a smart and safe consumer community.

According to the Ministry of Health, in 2024, the country recorded more than 130 cases of food poisoning, causing more than 4,700 people to be sick and 23 to die. Compared to the same period last year, the number of poisoning cases increased by nearly 10 cases, the number of people infected increased by more than 2,600.

Food poisoning cases mainly occur in collective kitchens, school canteens, eateries near schools, and street food in provinces such as Khanh Hoa, Dong Nai, Soc Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Vinh Phuc.

The main causes of mass food poisoning include natural toxins: Poisoning incidents mainly involve toxins from exotic animals such as puffer fish, wild mushrooms, and toads. These foods, when improperly prepared, can cause serious poisoning.

Bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, Bacillus cereus, and Histamine are common causes of food poisoning. Unsanitary food preparation and storage create ideal conditions for microorganisms to grow.

Some poisonings are related to the use of unsafe chemicals in food production and processing. Improper food storage in communal kitchens, restaurants or processing facilities can lead to bacterial growth and poisoning.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/khong-nen-tich-tru-thuc-pham-qua-nhieu-trong-dip-tet-d243366.html