Risk of food insecurity increases
According to the Ministry of Health, recently, functional agencies have discovered many cases of collecting, slaughtering and consuming diseased pork on a large scale in some localities. Worryingly, these unsanitary products have entered the market, even supplied to some collective kitchens, including school kitchens.
This situation increases the risk of disease spread, directly affecting public health. In particular, vulnerable groups such as students and workers are at risk of being more severely affected.
In addition, a number of collective food poisoning cases recently occurred in industrial parks and schools have caused concern in public opinion, raising an urgent requirement to tighten management.
Clear management responsibility from local to grassroots levels
The Ministry of Health emphasized that, according to the provisions of the Food Safety Law, People's Committees at all levels are responsible for managing collective kitchen activities in the area. At the same time, the education sector is responsible for inspecting and supervising school health work, including food safety.
In particular, the heads of food service business establishments and collective kitchen organizing units must be directly responsible if violations occur.
Strengthen inspection and strictly handle violations
To rectify the above situation, the Ministry of Health proposes that localities synchronously implement many solutions:
Develop a plan to regularly inspect and supervise collective kitchens; promptly detect and strictly handle violations.
Publicize violating establishments in the mass media to warn people.
Request establishments to strictly comply with food safety regulations and the Government's direction on food poisoning prevention.
In parallel with that, units need to promote communication, raise awareness of compliance with regulations; increase the responsibility of heads in controlling the entire process from raw materials to processing and serving.
Proactively prevent and trace origins when incidents occur
One of the important requirements is that localities must prepare plans to prevent food poisoning. When an incident occurs, it is necessary to quickly investigate the cause, trace the origin of food and handle it promptly to limit the consequences.
The Ministry of Health encourages the participation of organizations and individuals in supervising food safety work in industrial parks, schools, and hospitals.
For educational institutions that organize boarding, semi-boarding or canteens, the Ministry of Health requires strict implementation of current regulations on food safety.
Schools need to improve the responsibility of heads and meal providers; Strengthen propaganda on food safety knowledge for teachers and students; Mobilize the participation and supervision of parents and mass organizations in schools.
The Ministry of Health requests the People's Committees of provinces and cities to drastically direct all levels and sectors to seriously implement the above contents, in order to ensure food safety, prevent poisoning and protect people's health.
