3 deaths from drinking alcohol with high methanol content

Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation Nguyen Thi Viet Nga requested the Department of Health to strengthen inspection and supervision of food safety in the coming time.

According to the Department of Health, in the period 2016-2021, there were 17 food poisoning cases in the province with 545 people infected, 3 people died. The cases of food poisoning were mainly caused by microorganisms and some other causes, 3 deaths were caused by drinking alcohol with high methanol content.

According to the Department of Health, the risks of food poisoning are basically well controlled, and no mass poisoning has occurred. However, many alcohol producers and traders do not strictly comply with regulations, leading to a number of cases of alcohol poisoning and deaths. During the period 2016-2021, inspection teams of the Department of Health discovered and destroyed 100 liters of alcohol that did not match the declared records and 1,000 liters of alcohol of unknown origin. The total amount of fines for violations of food safety and quality during this period through inspection activities of the Department of Health was nearly 537 million VND.

The Department of Health recommends that Party committees, authorities and organizations at all levels strengthen direction and management of food safety work; improve the effectiveness of the Food Safety Steering Committees at all levels; the Provincial People's Committee supports funding, facilities, equipment, chemicals and training of human resources for food safety work. The Department also recommends that the National Assembly amend and supplement legal documents to unify the assignment and decentralization of specific professional agencies so that food safety management is smooth and strict.

Concluding the working session, Comrade Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, said that the food safety situation in recent years has been quite complicated, causing concern among the people and public opinion. Meanwhile, the number of inspections, checks and handling of food safety violations by the Department of Health and authorities at all levels is still limited. She requested the Department of Health to strengthen inspections, checks and handling of food safety violations in the coming time.

SNOW WIND