A month long campaign to raise the role and responsibility of agencies, businesses and consumers to improve food hygiene and safety was launched on April 14 by HCMC’s Board for Food Hygiene and Safety. It will run from April 14 to May 14.

It is difficult that street vendors can ensure food hygiene (Photo:VietnamNet)

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Le Truong Giang, deputy head of the board, said that hygiene and safety has improved, as 90 percent of aquatic products, 70 percent of fruit and vegetables, and 80 percent of meat are now sold through wholesale large markets.

It is easier to maintain and check standards.

With 22 cases of food poisoning, affecting 1,618 people so far at industrial parks and schools in the city, the board’s efforts have met with little success.

Health inspectors detected only eight of the 16 alcohol producers that were recently found to be breaking hygiene laws.

Only 12 percent of street vendors were given food hygiene certificates in districts 6 and Hoc Mon, where a pilot program for issuing certificates was held.

However, penalties have recently been imposed on some bottled water plants, due to substandard water and unhygienic conditions.

The deputy head of Vietnam Food Administration, Nguyen Thanh Phong, stressed that the city needs to strengthen its supervision, worrying that not only food poisoning cases will increase but also disease.

He proposed to set up a bureau to enhance inspection, as well as provide training to supervisors.

Ho Chi Minh City vice chairman Nguyen Thanh Tai said that it is urgent to improve supervision of food hygiene in the city, adding that owners of restaurants and eateries must take responsibility for food hygiene.

There would be punishments for businesses that disregard community health, he added.