Initial identification is a food poisoning case
At a press conference providing information on socio-economic issues in Ho Chi Minh City on May 7, Mr. Le Minh Hai - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety said that immediately after receiving information suspected of food poisoning occurring at Dang Thuy Tram Elementary School during the meal on April 24, the unit deployed an investigation and handled the case according to regulations.
According to initial investigation results, the incident occurred after a meal on April 24 at 2 school facilities including facility 1 on Tran Xuan Soan street and facility 2 on Huynh Tan Phat street, Tan Thuan ward. A total of 1,306 cases used meals suspected of being related to food poisoning. After eating, some students showed symptoms of digestive disorders, fever and were taken to the hospital.
Through investigation, functional agencies determined that the unit providing meals for both establishments is Xich Long Trading and Service Production Co., Ltd. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety has inspected this establishment, and at the same time, traced the origin of raw materials used to process meals on April 24.
Mr. Hai said that through epidemiological investigation and summarizing opinions from medical examination and treatment facilities receiving students of the school, it can be initially determined that this is a food poisoning case.
However, the time of the incident coincided with the Hung Kings Commemoration Cultural Festival, so in addition to the meal provided by the company, there was also a source of food brought into the school by parents. Therefore, to accurately determine which establishment caused the poisoning, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety needs time to establish it clearly.
The unit has implemented procedures such as health checks, taking samples for testing for people directly processing and serving; taking food samples from the meal on April 24 for testing. At the same time, coordinating with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health to evaluate the test results of specimens of students with symptoms of digestive disorders after meals.
According to Mr. Hai, the handling of the case needs more time because it is still related to determining administrative responsibility or signs of crime in the field of food safety. The unit also needs to coordinate with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health to determine the number of suspected poisoning students, the level of health impact before making a final conclusion and handling according to regulations.
Deploying a series of solutions
Regarding the situation of food poisoning cases still occurring continuously, Mr. Hai said that food poisoning is a risk that can always occur during food use if the source of raw materials, storage conditions as well as processing procedures are not well controlled.
Over the years, the unit has continued the city's programs and plans on food poisoning prevention, focusing on 2 groups of content.
The first is to promote propaganda, education, dissemination of legal regulations, risk warnings and guidance on food safety assurance procedures for different target groups in many forms.
High-risk groups causing large-scale food poisoning are identified including schools, export processing zones, industrial parks and street food. The unit has coordinated with many units to deploy propaganda and raise awareness to minimize the risk of food poisoning.
The second is to seriously implement the inspection and supervision of food production and business establishments, especially units providing industrial meals and semi-boarding meals at schools. In particular, establishments providing meals for schools are inspected periodically twice a year.
Through inspection, the unit determined that the processing and preservation, distribution of food accounted for a fairly large proportion of poisoning. In addition, the selection and preservation of raw materials also had an impact. From there, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety has implemented many solutions.
Assessing the Food Safety Department model, Mr. Hai said that this is a necessary and appropriate model in the current context.
The payroll after the merger decreased by 10% compared to before, but the department still divided Ho Chi Minh City into 12 areas to perform tasks.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety cannot perform the entire work on its own but needs the participation of many departments, branches and local authorities. The Department is the core unit, deploying plans, mobilizing other units to participate and supervise implementation results.
