In recent time, the violation of food safety and hygiene standards in both industrial kitchens and family kitchens is sharply increasing, raising health concerns to all Vietnamese people. Particularly, the situation is in high risk in summer, when digestive diseases are increasing in Asian countries including Vietnam. Nguyen Thanh Phong, vice head of the ministry’s Food Safety and Hygiene Department made an interview on the matter.
Could you give some information on current food safety and hygiene situation?
The country now has over one million foodstuff processing establishments, mainly on scale of small and medium. Among them, household firms operating on a seasonal basis account for high percentage. Because almost all establishments don’t ensure sufficient conditions on facilities, equipments and workers, the risks of foodstuff pollution and development of diseases contagious through food are at high level. Violation of foodstuff safety and hygiene is separated into two types. In the first case, producers intentionally violate the state’s regulation on food safety and hygiene for profits. In the second case, producers violate the rules because of lack of law knowledge. Besides, the input materials of small processing firms are not absolutely controlled. As a result, fellow dinners face five issues of food safety and hygiene. Firstly, food poisoning in industrial zones, public kitchens, hospitals, schools, farms are more and more sharply increasing. Secondly, the illegal import of foodstuff across borders is developing complicatedly and rampantly. Thirdly, counterfeit and poor quality foodstuff is circulated with the large number. Fourthly, foodstuff pollution, usage of toxic additives at craft villages and small establishments are at alarming level. Finally, toxic chemicals are found on fruits, vegetables and stimulants on meats, aquatic products.
In order to implement effectively the rules of the government, the food safety and hygiene department will combine with other relevant ministries, agencies to inspect and strictly punish violators.
At present, many establishments and poor quality foodstuff exist. So what are reasons and how to deal with the situation?
The main reason is attributed to the existence of the situation is due to we have not yet organised a comprehensive food safety and hygiene network, besides lack of human resource and necessary equipments. The management system at central level only includes the food safety and hygiene department and the quality management department for vet and aquatic safety and hygiene. Meanwhile, at local grassroots levels, food safety and hygiene officials hold more than one office. The country is facing lack of food safety and hygiene inspectors, although the government has issued many regulations on food safety and hygiene.
Furthermore, authorities at grassroots level, leaders of the management broads of industrial zones, markets have not yet recognized sufficiently on the role of food safety and hygiene.
To deal with the situation, the Prime Minister has issued the decree No. 06, regulating detailed measures against violation of food safety and hygiene including propaganda to raise awareness of people, urgently improve inspection system as well as strictly implement the illegal rules on foodstuff trading and processing.
Authorities need to further strengthen inspections and strictly punish violators and take themselves full responsibility for any food safety and hygiene violation in their offices.
Thi Van
Vietnamese
