HCM CITY — The HCM City Food Safety Management Board has set up 11 teams to manage food safety at inter-district levels and two others at Hóc Môn and Bình Điền wholesale markets to resolve violations.

The teams have inspected more than 3,680 food production, processing and trading establishments and found 623 violators. Fines of more than VNĐ6 billion (US$257,424) have been handed out.

The board fined Đồng Tiến Co. Ltd, for example, a total of VNĐ84 million for violations against food safety and hygiene regulations, including insects found in trays containing butter used to make breads. Other violations included food safety licenses that were out of date. 

The company’s bread products had caused 55 people to be hospitalised on October 28.

The fine was higher than the one in the past because of the new regulations that went into effect on October 20.

Of the 623 establishments in violation, seven had to stop operation for a certain amount of time.  

The food safety board takes samples from markets for testing and evaluates the risks that could cause food poisoning. If the food is found unsafe, it will be withdrawn.

It has inspected food trade and service establishments, canteens and food suppliers for schools and companies in industrial parks and export processing zones.

The board, which was set up two years ago, has prevented food poisoning cases from occurring in the city.  

The board has awarded 288 licences to 142 farm and production, processing and trading establishments eligible to take part in food safety supply chains.

The establishments are located in HCM City and Cần Thơ, and the provinces of Đồng Nai, Bình Dương, Bình Phước, Tiền Giang, Long An, Lâm Đồng, Hậu Giang, Kiên Giang, Đồng Tháp, Sóc Trăng, Bạc Liêu, and Bình Thuận.

By the end of next year, all products consumed in the city will be controlled under the food safety supply chains, according to the board.  

Nearly 80 per cent of food consumed in the city originates from other provinces and cities. — VNS