On the morning of August 22, the Food Safety Inspection Team chaired by the Department of Health, in coordination with the Provincial Labor Federation, the Department of Industry and Trade, and the Provincial Industrial Park Management Board, inspected a number of enterprises operating collective kitchens and providing ready-to-eat meals in Yen Khanh district.

The delegation inspected 2 enterprises in Khanh Phu Industrial Park (Yen Khanh district) that organized collective meals, including Jeil Kovi Vina Company Limited, where Green Pearl Vietnam Company Limited provided ready-to-eat meals, serving meals for 230-250 workers, and Nien Hsing Ninh Binh Garment Company Limited, where Phuc Long Trading and Development Company Limited and Thuy Net Company Limited are 2 establishments providing ready-to-eat meals with nearly 1,000 meals/day.

At the inspected locations, the Delegation inspected the establishments for compliance with State regulations on food safety, including administrative and legal records of the establishments such as Business Registration Certificate, Decision to establish a collective kitchen or similar documents, Certificate of qualified food safety establishments (for establishments required to have a Certificate), Health Certificate, Certificate of food safety training of the establishment owner for those directly processing food and serving food...

At the same time, check the conditions of facilities, equipment and tools; the origin, source and quality of food, food additives, raw materials used for food processing, water sources used for food processing; personal hygiene practices of employees directly processing and serving food; food processing, preservation and transportation procedures; three-step food inspection, keeping food samples at the facility and recording all types of books according to regulations.

Through on-site inspection and working with leaders of businesses and units providing ready-to-eat meals, the Inspection Team assessed that the ready-to-eat meal businesses basically have full legal procedures and related documents on food safety according to regulations; have sufficient food safety conditions for facilities, equipment, tools, and people. For food, there is a contract with the supplier.

The establishments have also implemented quite well the process of food processing, preservation and transportation; three-step food inspection, keeping food samples at the establishment and recording books according to regulations...

However, the Inspection Team also pointed out shortcomings and limitations, thereby recommending that businesses and ready-to-eat meal suppliers overcome them, specifically: Businesses need to strengthen inspection and supervision of meal processing activities of ready-to-eat meal processing companies. Ready-to-eat meal processing facilities should pay more attention to hygiene, renovate kitchen walls, preparation areas, and hand-washing floors; sign full contracts with reputable food suppliers, with sufficient legal documents on food safety...

Through the inspection and assessment of compliance with food safety laws at enterprises and ready-to-eat food processing establishments. Timely detect, prevent and handle violations of food safety; rectify processing and business activities at establishments to comply with legal regulations and propose solutions to shortcomings in management, contributing to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of State management of food safety.

Along with that, during the inspection process, we also combine propaganda and education on knowledge and laws on food safety, raising awareness and consciousness of business representatives and workers, contributing to ensuring food safety, preventing collective food poisoning incidents at businesses, production and business establishments, ensuring the rights and legitimate interests of workers.

News and photos: Hanh Chi