Hanoi steps up the fight against food safety violations

Since the beginning of 2023, Hanoi has strengthened the management and inspection of food safety in factories, catering services, street food, and kitchens in schools and industrial parks.

This has been one of the city's key focuses since its administrative boundary expansion 15 years ago.

In addition, Hanoi authorities have gradually raised awareness of food safety among businesses and consumers and strictly dealt with violations.

An interdisciplinary inspection team from Hanoi inspects food safety and hygiene at a Bac Tu Liem District supermarket. Photo: Hanoimoi

Serving 30,000 consumers in 18 districts, some 2,600 food production and business facilities in Hai Ba Trung District have been closely monitored. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, vice chairwoman of the district People's Committee, said food safety is always a special concern.

"To ensure food safety and protect people's health, Hai Ba Trung District's multidisciplinary food safety inspection teams have inspected more than 1,200 businesses in the past seven months and have dealt with violations by 208 businesses with a total fine of about VND992 million (US$41,549)," Hien said.

Since the beginning of 2023, Dong Anh District has checked the traceability of food suppliers for kitchens in schools and industrial zones, with about 1,650 (accounting for 32.6%) inspected and 111 of them fined for violations with a total amount of more than VND253 million ($10,596).

"During the inspection, the district has asked business owners to take the initiative to conduct health checks for themselves and employees directly involved in food processing," said Nguyen Thanh Luan, head of the Dong Anh District Health Department, adding that the district has about 5,200 food production and trade businesses.

Luan said that to promote the effectiveness of inspection and testing, the district's functional agencies will resolutely deal with food safety violations and suspend facilities that do not meet the conditions prescribed by law. In addition, the names and addresses of establishments that violate food safety will be made public to deter other food establishments.

Hanoi’s interdisciplinary delegation inspects food safety at a preschool in Phu Xuyen District in May 2023. Photo: Lam Nguyen/The Hanoi Times