The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just sent a report to the Party Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee on the results of reviewing the responsibility for state management in the field of food safety in the area.
According to the report, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety was established on July 1, 2025.
The Department of Food Safety is a specialized agency under the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, with the function of advising and assisting the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee in implementing state management of food safety; organizing inspections and handling administrative violations in this field; issuing certificates of quarantine of animal products out of the city. The above functions are transferred from the Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Environment, and the Department of Industry and Trade.
In addition to being directly directed and managed by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the Department of Food Safety also complies with the guidance and inspection of expertise and profession of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Pursuant to Decree No. 136/2025/ND-CP and Decree No. 146/2025/ND-CP issued by the Government on decentralization and delegation of authority in related fields, the Department of Food Safety has advised the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to authorize the Department Director to perform a number of tasks and powers in state management of food safety.
At the same time, in order to facilitate management at the grassroots level, the Department of Food Safety continues to review and advise competent authorities to authorize the People's Committees of wards, communes and special zones to perform a number of tasks and powers on food safety management in the area.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, based on the self-review of the Department of Food Safety and the synthesis of reports from relevant agencies and units, in Official Dispatch No. 2772/SATTP-KTPC dated November 28, 2025, the Department of Food Safety concluded: "After reviewing, no violations in state management of food safety have been detected; there are no recommendations for handling responsibilities for organizations and individuals with violations".
For nearly two months, Ho Chi Minh City has had consecutive suspected food poisoning cases related to bread.
Most recently, on December 22, dozens of people were hospitalized with symptoms of severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting after eating bread purchased at N.H. shop, Phu My ward (formerly Ba Ria - Vung Tau province). As of 10:00 a.m. on December 23, medical facilities have received and treated 102 patients with signs of suspected food poisoning related to this facility.
Previously, in early November 2025, more than 300 people in Ho Chi Minh City were also poisoned after eating Co Bich toad bread in Hanh Thong ward.
