Food Safety Action Month (April 15 to May 15): No forbidden zones, no exceptions in handling food safety violations

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Son Hung, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Food Safety and Hygiene.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee NGUYEN SON HUNG, Head of the Provincial Steering Committee for Food Safety, emphasized that food not only affects human health in the short term but also affects the quality of the race and the sustainable development of the country.

Prevent mass food poisoning

  Sir, why did Dong Nai choose the topic related to collective kitchens and street food in this year's Food Safety Action Month?

- Dong Nai currently has a population of more than 3.3 million. The large number of businesses, schools, and hospitals means that there are many collective kitchens. Each collective kitchen serves tens to tens of thousands of people every day. The number of street food establishments is also among the top in the country with more than 7.6 thousand establishments. In 2024, there were 3 food poisoning incidents in the province, of which the most affected incident was related to a street food establishment. To prevent similar mass food poisoning incidents, this year the province has focused especially on controlling food safety in collective kitchens, street food establishments, and food service establishments.

Dong Nai is reviewing and synthesizing the quantity of nutritional products for children up to 36 months old, medical nutritional foods, foods for special diets, and dietary supplements that have registered food product declarations/self-declared products to report to the Ministry of Health.

  What causes the risk of food poisoning to always be present in collective kitchens, food businesses, and street food, sir?

- The most important factor is the knowledge, skills, responsibility, and ethics of the owner of the facility, the person directly processing and trading food. If these people have a high sense of responsibility, they will control the selection of food from the input stage to ensure quality. Next, they will focus on the stages in the process of production, processing, preservation, and transportation of food to consumers and vice versa.

Other objective reasons include: the situation of illegal slaughter has not been thoroughly controlled; the connection of safe food chains to collective kitchens and food service establishments is not effective due to prices being higher than market prices. For profit, many places will choose cheaper food sources, food through many intermediaries, leading to difficulty in controlling quality and tracing the origin of food.

Some large enterprises cook centrally outside and then transport to enterprises in industrial zones, which do not meet the requirements regarding time, means of transportation, and food preservation. Hygiene conditions, equipment, tools, and the environment around food processing areas are not regularly controlled; sample storage and 3-step food inspection are still just formalities...

  So, is there any difficulty in food safety management in the province, sir?

- Since 2017, the Steering Committee for Food Safety in Dong Nai province has been established. In which, the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Environment, and the Department of Industry and Trade are three specialized agencies with the function of advising the Provincial People's Committee to perform the state management function on food safety according to the assignment and decentralization of the Food Safety Law. In addition, at the district and commune levels, departments, offices, and individuals are also assigned to be in charge of this field. Despite many efforts, food safety management in the province still has many limitations and shortcomings. The human resources are thin, and illegal slaughter has not been thoroughly controlled and prevented; the use of toxic chemicals and additives in food production, processing, and preservation still exists. The management of small-scale food businesses and street food still has many difficulties...

There are no “no-go zones” in inspecting and handling food safety violations.

Authorities inspect food safety at a confectionery production facility in the province. Photo: H. Dung

  How is the management, inspection and handling of food safety violations carried out, sir?

- Over the past years, the work of ensuring food safety and security has always been given attention and priority in direction and management by the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee. At meetings, provincial leaders have directed relevant units to strengthen coordination to more effectively implement food safety management in the province. In particular, it is necessary to promote inspection, examination, post-inspection, and strict punishment of individuals and establishments violating food safety, without favoritism, avoidance, no forbidden areas, no exceptions. Provincial leaders reminded officials and members of inspection teams to improve public ethics in inspection and handling. Do not ignore violations, do not extort, harass, ignore, or assist violations.

In 2024, the province inspected and post-inspected more than 17,100 food production, processing and trading establishments. As a result, more than 1,500 establishments were found to be in violation, 930 establishments were fined more than 4.5 billion VND. In addition, 1 establishment was forced to close, 5 cases had their veterinary practice certificates revoked for 2 months, 2 cases were prosecuted with 2 defendants for violating food safety regulations; many unsafe food products of unknown origin were confiscated and destroyed.

The province currently has more than 15,500 food production, processing and trading establishments under management. Including 663 production and processing establishments; nearly 3,000 food trading establishments; more than 4,200 food service establishments and more than 7,600 street food trading establishments. To date, the province has built and recognized 35 pilot models for food safety control at food service establishments.

During the Food Safety Action Month 2025, at the provincial level, 4 interdisciplinary inspection teams were also established to conduct inspections at food production, processing and trading establishments in the province.

Violating establishments will be handled and publicized in the mass media. In addition to inspection and examination, the delegations are responsible for propagating, providing specific instructions, and supporting establishment owners to strictly comply with legal regulations related to food safety. Propagating so that consumers can wisely choose safe foods. Thereby, creating positive changes from knowledge to behavior in the production, processing, and use of food by the people.

  How can people distinguish fake food that does not guarantee quality?

- The provincial leaders assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment and the Department of Industry and Trade to strengthen the dissemination of scientific knowledge on food safety and the harmful effects of fake and poor quality food to people in the province. At the same time, coordinate with the Provincial Farmers' Association, the Provincial Women's Union, the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and socio-political organizations to implement the Project on Building and developing a model for providing safe agricultural, forestry and aquatic products nationwide, organic agriculture, applying high technology, and developing a safe agricultural and food supply chain nationwide.

Before buying and using food, consumers need to pay attention to information about the origin, source, barcode, product manufacturing company, etc. Do not believe in advertisements that exaggerate the product's benefits. As for food production, processing and trading establishments, if they have lost their reputation and lost the trust of customers, it will be difficult for that establishment to survive in the long term. Individuals and organizations that violate the law will also be strictly handled according to the provisions of the law.

Everyone must be aware that ensuring food safety is their responsibility, for themselves, their families and for the whole society. The ultimate goal is to ensure the health and safety of everyone.

  Thank you!

Hanh Dung (performed)

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202504/thang-hanh-dong-vi-an-toan-thuc-pham-15-4-den-15-5-khong-co-vung-cam-khong-co-ngoai-le-trong-xu-ly-vi-pham-an-toan-thuc-pham-97a08b4/