Beware of fake wine and dirty food during Tet

Unsafe food comes from many sources.

At around 11am on January 9, 2025, during lunch in Trai Loc village, An Sinh commune, Dong Trieu city (Quang Ninh), 6 men ate and drank alcohol together. The meal included meat, beans, cabbage... All food and white wine were purchased at a restaurant in Trai Loc village.

After drinking about 1 liter of white wine, 5 people continued to drink wine soaked with newly dug tree roots, 1 person did not drink. When the meal ended, around 13:00 on the same day, the remaining 5 people who drank wine soaked with tree roots showed symptoms of dizziness, itching, blurred vision, drowsiness, fatigue... After that, all 5 people were taken to Dong Trieu City Medical Center for emergency treatment. On the way to the emergency room, one person died at 15:30 on the same day. The remaining 4 people are still being treated and monitored at Dong Trieu City Medical Center.

The Department of Food Safety (Ministry of Health) received a quick report from the Department of Food Safety and Hygiene of Quang Ninh province about this incident. The Department is requesting the Department of Health of Quang Ninh province to find the cause, and at the same time increase propaganda, instruct people on food safety knowledge and measures to prevent food poisoning.

At the same time, the Food Safety Department received information from the Binh Thuan Provincial Department of Health about a food poisoning incident that occurred at a household in Village 3, Binh Thanh Commune, Tuy Phong District, Binh Thuan Province.

According to the report, people went to sea, caught puffer fish, cooked it, and ate it while drinking alcohol. Afterwards, those who ate the food developed symptoms of numbness in the tongue, hands, and feet. Despite intensive emergency care, one person died.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center (Bach Mai Hospital), said that the closer to Tet, the higher the number of patients hospitalized due to methanol (industrial alcohol) poisoning. The center has discovered many alcohol-based disinfectants with very high methanol concentrations, accounting for 70-90%. Many people buy this alcohol to mix into wine for sale.

At the end of the year, as the Lunar New Year approaches, alcohol and beer consumption increases dramatically due to parties, meetings and year-end summaries. This is also the time when the rate of alcohol poisoning increases, especially methanol poisoning, leading to many deaths and hospitalizations in critical condition.

Recently, when inspecting a restaurant in Chuong My district (Hanoi), Hanoi authorities discovered more than 500 liters of handmade colored wine of unknown origin. The owner of the establishment said that this amount of wine was ordered from people to brew and soak themselves.

Prevent food poisoning at the end of the year

Dr. Tran Viet Nga - Director of the Department of Food Safety, Ministry of Health - said that to manage food safety and reduce cases of collective food poisoning, coordination between ministries and branches such as Health, Agriculture, Industry and Trade, local agencies and social organizations is very necessary.

Inter-sectoral coordination does not stop at inspection and violation handling activities but also needs to include propaganda and education to raise public awareness.

Dr. Tran Viet Nga said that from now until the Lunar New Year, the authorities need to strengthen inspection and control of production and business activities of products displayed and circulated in the area. Thereby, early detection, thorough tracing of the origin of violations; resolutely handle violations, especially acts of counterfeiting, imitation, use of prohibited materials in alcohol production and trading establishments and publicize violations according to the provisions of law. At the same time, strengthen communication; request units and people not to use alcohol without stamps.