October 05, 2025 23:01 | About us
Language: Tiếng việt ພາ​ສາ​ລາວ ខ្មែរ РУССКИЙ 中文

  • Focus
  • National
  • Friendship
  • Viet's Home
    • Expats in Vietnam
    • Vietnamese Herbal Tea
  • Economy
    • Make in Vietnam
    • Women in Business
  • Seas and islands
  • Overseas Vietnamese
  • World
  • Travel
  • Handbook
  • Multimedia
  • National |

Food safety in industrial zones a major concern

Tran Van Chung, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Health, said several food poisoning cases have occurred at public canteens in the city in recent months. He blamed substandard food at canteens and low awareness of their staff.
September 03, 2018 | 15:49

Food safety is still a major concern at public canteens in Hanoi, especially at factory cafeterias in industrial zones, according to officials.

In the latest incident, 29 trainees from Song Hong Human Resources JSC suffered food poisoning after having dinner provided by New Sky Food Processing and Trading Ltd. They were rushed to local hospitals for emergency treatment after experiencing stomach aches, headaches, vomiting and high fevers.

The incident has prompted competent agencies to tighten the management of public canteens at industrial zones and schools in the capital.

Food safety in industrial zones a major concern

Photo for illustration

According to the health department, there are 4,256 public canteens in the city, including 457 in industrial zones.

Hoang Thi Minh Thu, deputy head of the Hanoi Food Safety and Hygiene Division, said inspectors from the Hanoi Department of Health and Hanoi Food Safety and Hygiene Division have inspected 133 public canteens, including 96 in industrial zones.

Fourteen canteens were found to have violated food safety and hygiene and safety standards, with total punishment amounting to VND 85.5 million (USD 3,700).

Common violations included failing to store food samples properly, using substandard facilities and a lack of regular health examinations for kitchen staff.

Nguyen Thanh Phong, director of the Ministry of Health’s Administration of Food Safety and Hygiene said food poisoning at public canteens is a major problem.

According to him, ready-to-eat food was the biggest issue leading to food poisoning.

Surveys conducted by the administration showed that about 70 percent of food poisoning cases came from catering services, he said.

Inspections revealed that only 20 percent of companies at industrial and processing zones set up their own public canteens, while the rest signed contracts with food processing and trading companies.

Ngo Dinh Loat, deputy head of the Hanoi Agro-Forestry Fisheries Quality Assurance Division, said with a population of more than 10 million, the demand for food in the city was big.

Hanoi could produce only 60 percent of the food and the rest comes from neighboring provinces.

Ha Linh Chi, a representative from Panasonic Appliances Vietnam Ltd. Company, said the biggest challenge in ensuring food safety in canteens was the honesty of food suppliers.

Most public canteens could show certificates declaring the origin of food and sample tests were used, but it was impossible to ensure they met standards stated in signed contracts or not, she said.

Vo Viet Dung, chairman of Nam Hanoi Food Processing JSC, agreed, citing the fact that some small enterprises affiliated with big firms who specialise in producing safe food. However, they still purchased food with unclear origin to supply public canteens.

Dung also said the low cost of a meal for workers at industrial zones posed difficulties for companies in ensuring nutrition and quality.

Tran Kieu Huong, a representative from Ba Sao Food Service Ltd company, agreed.

“A meal for workers must meet certain quantity and quality of food while the company pays only VND 18,000 per dish,” she told the Ha Noi Moi (New Hanoi) newspaper.

In addition, she said, companies who provided safe food couldn’t meet the requests of every canteen as they were scattered in different places.

To tackle these problems, city authorities had signed contracts with 21 provinces and cities in the north to provide safe food, Loat from Hanoi Agro-Forestry Fisheries Quality Assurance Division said.

Quick response (QR) code applications had been deployed to trace the origin of agricultural products to control quality. This enabled companies to choose the right products, he said.

Regarding communications activities, Huong stressed the need to improve the awareness of those involved.

It was necessary to educate managers, chefs and staff working at canteens and food processing companies about their responsibility in ensuring safe food, she said.

To ensure food safety at public canteens, Tran Van Chung, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Health, said the origin of the food would be tightened and inspections on public canteens would be strengthened. Any violations should be strictly dealt with.

The management board of industrial zones should enhance cooperation with public canteens, he said. Only units meeting standards were allowed to operate and only those who had undergone training on food safety were permitted to work there./.

( VNF/VNA )

Chia sẻ
Tweet Email Print

Trending

save the children 35 year journey with vietnamese children

Save the Children: 35-year Journey with Vietnamese children

best vietnam travel tips and suggestions

Best Vietnam travel tips and suggestions

vietnamese cuisines and dishes you must try

Vietnamese cuisines and dishes you must try

Most read

Recommended

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 5): Vietnam’s FDI Inflows Remain Strong Amidst Global Stagnation National

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 5): Vietnam’s FDI Inflows Remain Strong Amidst Global Stagnation

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 5): Acting Foreign Minister holds phone conversation with top Thai diplomat; Top Cuban legislator expects stronger investment cooperation with Vietnam; Vietnam’s FDI inflows remain strong amidst global stagnation; Vietnamese peacekeepers plant seeds of trust in Abyei.
October 05, 2025 | 08:00
Vietnam News Today (Oct. 4): Vietnam, Thailand Seek Measures to Intensify Bilateral Collaboration National

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 4): Vietnam, Thailand Seek Measures to Intensify Bilateral Collaboration

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 4): Vietnam, Thailand seek measures to intensify bilateral collaboration; New World Phu Quoc Resort among Asia’s top kid-friendly family stays; Vietnam, France foster innovation cooperation; Two possible scenarios for Matmo’s impacts on Vietnam.
October 04, 2025 | 07:00
Vietnam News Today (Oct. 3): Vietnam Braces for New Tropical Storm National

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 3): Vietnam Braces for New Tropical Storm

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 3): Vietnam, Mongolia seek to boost multifaceted cooperation; Da Nang trade connection conference highlights export opportunities; Vietnam’s global role, growth renewal in spotlight at VNEF 2025; Science, technology, and innovation to shape Vietnam’s future.
October 03, 2025 | 09:23
Vietnam News Today (Oct. 2): Vietnam, Cuba Pledge to Deepen Special friendship and comprehensive cooperation National

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 2): Vietnam, Cuba Pledge to Deepen Special friendship and comprehensive cooperation

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 2): Vietnam, Cuba pledge to deepen special friendship and comprehensive cooperation; Vietnam treasures multi-faceted cooperation with Germany; Vietnam, Bulgaria agree to expand cooperation in new areas; Vietnam, Russia conclude first People’s Forum, pledge to deepen ties.
October 02, 2025 | 07:00

Popular article

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 1): ADB Raises Vietnam’s Economic Growth Forecast to 6.7% in 2025 National

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 1): ADB Raises Vietnam’s Economic Growth Forecast to 6.7% in 2025

Vietnam News Today (Oct. 1): Vietnam, Japan parliaments strengthen cooperation; ADB raises Vietnam’s economic growth forecast to 6.7% in 2025; Tay Ninh, Mekong Delta emerging as Vietnam’s strategic Halal hub; Opportunities and challenges for Vietnamese industry amid surging foreign investment.
October 01, 2025 | 07:00
Vietnam News Today (Sep. 30): Engineering Unit Rotation 3 Accomplishes Task in UN Peacekeeping Mission in Abyei National

Vietnam News Today (Sep. 30): Engineering Unit Rotation 3 Accomplishes Task in UN Peacekeeping Mission in Abyei

Vietnam News Today (Sep. 30): Russian parliament ready to support Governments to bolster all-round ties; Engineering Unit Rotation 3 accomplishes task in UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei; Vietnam to create more favorable conditions for US investors; More than 450 flights affected by typhoon Bualoi.
September 30, 2025 | 07:00
Vietnam News Today (Sep. 29): Vietnam, Russia Agree to Boost Parliamentary and Economic Cooperation National

Vietnam News Today (Sep. 29): Vietnam, Russia Agree to Boost Parliamentary and Economic Cooperation

Vietnam News Today (Sep. 29): Vietnam, Russia agree to boost parliamentary and economic cooperation; Vietnam, RoK step up cooperation in training strategic-level leaders; PeaceTrees Vietnam sows seed of Peace in Vietnam; Vietnam, Laos strengthen cooperation in STEM and Robotics education.
September 29, 2025 | 07:00
Vietnam News Today (Sep. 28): Vietnam Braces for Rare Storm as Bualoi Speeds toward Coast National

Vietnam News Today (Sep. 28): Vietnam Braces for Rare Storm as Bualoi Speeds toward Coast

Vietnam News Today (Sep. 28): Vietnam, EU eye balance, deeper strategic cooperation; Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 completes UN Mission in South Sudan; Vietnam – Cambodia trade: Path towards 20 billion USD target; Vietnam among top 5 ideal destinations for expats 2025.
September 28, 2025 | 07:18
  • Focus
  • National
  • Friendship
  • Viet's Home
  • Economy
  • Seas and islands
  • Overseas Vietnamese
  • World
  • Travel
  • Handbook
  • Multimedia

Vietnamtimes.org.vn

© Copyright 2015

Editor-in-chief: Le Quang Thien

Address: 61 Ba Trieu, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Telephone: 84-4-39445396. Fax: 84-4-39445397

Editor: [email protected]

Based on MasterCMS Ultimate edition Ver 2.9 2022
Phiên bản di động