[health-vn] Stricter inspections reduce food poisoning in HCM City

[Vern Weitzel]

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/Health/2009/04/842127/

Stricter inspections reduce food poisoning in HCM City
18:52' 15/04/2009 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – The number of food poisoning cases has declined in HCM City 
because of increased inspections, officials told a food safety conference held 
in HCM City yesterday.


Food safety and hygiene check is carried out on a daily basis at Dongil Vina 
Co’s (HCM City) kitchen that serves more than 500 workers daily.

Le Truong Giang, deputy director of the city Health Department, attributed the 
success to a new national food safety programme.

More money has been allocated to city budgets for food safety and more 
inspectors have been added.

Last year, 22 food poisoning cases occurred in HCM City, with 1,600 people 
affected, a substantial drop from the 2,089 in 2007.

In addition, the city last year granted food safety certificates to 26,500 food 
companies. HCM City has 46,800 food production companies and 2,000 canteens 
located in industrial parks and schools.

Giang said while progress had been made, it was still difficult to inspect 
street peddlers because of their mobility.

Moving them to designated areas in the city was one of several solutions to the 
problem, he said.

In addition to a reduction in food poisoning cases, the city said it had 
effectively monitored more than 80 percent of the food traded in markets.

The establishment of three wholesale markets, Tam Binh (Thu Duc District), Tan 
Xuan (Hoc Mon District) and Binh Dien (Dictrict 8), at the city’s gates had 
enhanced supervision.

More than 80 percent food consumed in HCM City entered the city through these 
three markets.

During the past two years, the city’s Health Department has worked with the 
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Department of Industry and 
Trade to encourage food safety compliance.

Every day, HCM City consumes 1,600 tonnes of vegetables, but only 30 per cent of 
them are grown in rural areas outside the city.

Giang said the Health Department had worked with the Department of Agriculture 
and Rural Development in nine provinces to promote the growing of "clean 
vegetables" to sell in the city.

Giang said an annual food safety month would be established, with this year’s 
activities to take place April 15-May 15. Official ceremonies will begin Sunday 
in 322 wards of the city.

During food safety month, city health officials will conduct inspections, impose 
fines and offer solutions to improve food safety.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News