In early April, the case of a series of students from Binh Quoi Tay Elementary School suspected of food poisoning received great public attention. This is another clear warning about the risk of food poisoning in the school environment.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Phong Lan - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety, for school meals, the unit has implemented many solutions such as regular training, inspection of schools and units providing meals, and organization of signing commitments with 317 units providing meals for schools.
Regarding the case of many students of Binh Quoi Tay Primary School suspected of food poisoning, on April 17, the Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety issued a notice of the conclusion of Deputy Director Le Minh Hai at the preliminary information meeting on the results of the investigation and handling of food poisoning at Binh Quoi Tay Primary School and discussed plans to ensure semi-boarding meals for schools provided by Huu Phuoc Trading and Service Transportation Company (Huu Phuoc Company).
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety requests the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training to issue a document directing the assurance of food safety and meals in schools in the city.
In addition, it is proposed that the People's Committees of 5 wards (Gia Dinh, Binh Quoi, Binh Thanh, Thanh My Tay, Binh Loi Trung), after the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety concludes the basis and cause of food poisoning for the incident at Binh Quoi Tay Primary School, provided with meals by Huu Phuoc Production and Transportation Service Trading Company Branch (Xo Viet Nghe Tinh street, Thanh My Tay ward), the People's Committees of wards with schools receiving meals from this unit have alternative plans and need to proactively implement semi-boarding meals to serve students in the area to ensure continuity and no interruption.
At the same time, chairing and assigning specialized personnel to coordinate with representatives of the school's Parents' Association and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety to supervise meals in schools.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety provides a list of units providing meals and food so that the People's Committees of wards can proactively inform, support and guide schools to choose suitable alternative suppliers.
Previously, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health informed that the analysis results showed that 22/23 stool samples were positive for Salmonella bacteria (12 samples from Gia Dinh People's Hospital, 8 samples from Children's Hospital 2 and 2 samples from Binh Thanh General Hospital). According to medical experts, this is a common factor causing digestive tract infections related to food.
