After recording 22 cases requiring hospitalization with suspected food poisoning symptoms related to Hong Ngoc 37 bread production facility, the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) requested the local health sector to urgently investigate, trace the origin of food and strictly handle violations if any.
On June 18, the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) sent a document to the Dong Thap Provincial Department of Health requesting investigation and handling of the incident and strengthening measures to prevent and combat food poisoning in the area.
According to initial information, on June 17, in Dao Thanh ward, 22 cases were recorded hospitalized suspected of eating bread from Hong Ngoc 37 bread production facility. Patients showed symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, numbness in the hands and fatigue. These cases are being actively treated at medical facilities.
Notably, this is the second suspected food poisoning case related to Hong Ngoc bread production facility in recent times. The incident has raised concerns about the risk of food insecurity, affecting consumer health and causing public outrage.
Faced with the above developments, the Food Safety Department requested the Dong Thap Department of Health to direct medical examination and treatment facilities to focus resources on treating patients, ensuring that it does not affect the health and lives of patients.
At the same time, functional sectors need to urgently organize investigations and trace the origin of food suspected of causing poisoning; identify the source of raw materials, take food and specimens for testing, and clarify the cause of the incident.
The Ministry of Health also requested to clarify the responsibilities of relevant organizations and individuals; comprehensively review the compliance with food safety regulations at Hong Ngoc 37 bread production facility to strictly handle according to regulations and prevent recurrence of violations.
In addition, localities are required to strengthen propaganda and guidance for people and food production and business establishments to raise awareness of ensuring food safety. Immediate food processing establishments must strictly comply with hygiene conditions throughout the process from importing raw materials, preliminary processing, processing to transportation and preservation.
The Food Safety Department also proposed to strengthen inspection and supervision of small-scale food production and business establishments and street food points; especially reviewing establishments that have experienced incidents or violations of food safety to prevent the risk of recurrence of poisoning cases.
The Dong Thap Department of Health is also required to strictly implement the directions of the Government and the Ministry of Health on strengthening food poisoning prevention, ensuring food safety in the production, business and street food business.
The Food Safety Department requests localities to continue to closely monitor the developments of the case, implement a rapid reporting regime, proactively provide information to people and soon publicize the investigation results to promptly warn the community.
