"Hot" food safety issue in the questioning session

Delegate Mua Thi Dinh, Dien Bien district delegation participated in the questioning.

Delegate Mua Thi Dinh, Dien Bien District Delegation and Delegate Nguyen Phu Duc, Dien Bien Dong District Delegation shared the concerns and worries of many voters regarding the food poisoning situation that occurred in the area in the past year. In particular, in 2024, Dien Bien province will organize many important events such as: Celebrating the 70th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory, National Tourism Year - Dien Bien with a series of cultural, sports and tourism activities and events... With a large number of people and tourists gathering, the risk of food safety incidents and the level of impact is very high.

Delegate Nguyen Phu Duc, Dien Bien Dong district delegation questioned the health sector.

Explaining this content, Mr. Pham Giang Nam, Director of the Department of Health informed: From January 1 to December 5, 2023, there were 6 food poisoning incidents in the province, with 73 cases and 1 isolated food poisoning case, higher than in 2022 (3 incidents, 9 cases). The main cause was microbial contamination in fresh vermicelli. 100% of food poisoning incidents were promptly investigated, verified, and samples were taken for testing.

Mr. Pham Giang Nam, Director of the Department of Health answered questions.

Through the food poisoning cases, especially the 5 cases caused by microorganisms in fresh vermicelli, it can be seen that when a poisoning case occurs, there is no decisive intervention from the assigned management sector, the Inter-sectoral Steering Committee on Food Safety of the district and city in investigating and handling. Only when many related cases occur, the Steering Committee at the district level will take action. If we can stop early the bringing of vermicelli produced without safety standards to the districts for consumption, the number of poisoning cases will be much less.

According to the Director of the Department of Health, as the standing agency of the Provincial Interdisciplinary Steering Committee on Food Safety, in the coming time, the Health sector will coordinate with departments, branches and People's Committees of districts to advise the Provincial People's Committee to direct the synchronous and comprehensive implementation of measures to ensure food safety. In particular, it will improve the capacity of state management on food safety; the effectiveness of inter-sectoral coordination in inspection, examination, testing and handling of violations of food safety. Maintain and improve the capacity of the food poisoning and food-borne disease surveillance system from the province to the district and commune levels. Strengthen communication on food safety; early detection, investigation and timely handling of poisoning cases in the community, organize good emergency treatment, minimize the number of cases and deaths due to food poisoning.

Mr. Pham Duc Toan, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee participated in answering and clarifying issues related to food safety.

Regarding this content, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Duc Toan also gave clarification. He emphasized that ensuring food safety and hygiene involves many stages, so there needs to be synchronous coordination in controlling: Production, circulation, processing, and use of food. The Provincial People's Committee accepted the opinions of the delegates and committed to directing relevant levels and sectors to perform better in the coming year. Especially the sectors: Agriculture, Industry and Trade, Health and local authorities. In addition, communication work also needs to widely publicize information about violating establishments so that people know and avoid them; at the same time, creating public pressure to prevent the production and trading of unsafe goods.

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