Concerned about food in front of business gates

Sleazy

Along Highway 37, through the Nam Sach Industrial Park (Hai Duong City), there are nearly a dozen carts selling food and drinks such as sticky rice, bread, dumplings, soy milk, etc. every day, mainly serving workers and laborers in enterprises in the area. The advantage of these shops is that the food is fast, convenient, and cheap, usually only from 10,000-25,000 VND/meal.

We stopped at a cart located on the side of the road to buy bread. Here, the female vendor did not wear a mask, did not wear gloves, and used her bare hands to quickly prepare food for customers. On this cart, ingredients such as pate and vegetables were placed on plastic trays without covers, regardless of the exhaust fumes and dust on the road. After finishing the fried egg sandwich, the woman used an unlabeled, dirty-looking white jar to pour sauce on the bread filling. According to our observations, most of the food on the carts were not covered or carefully preserved, but were often sold on trays without covers. Many vendors did not wear gloves or masks...

This situation also occurs near the gate of Nam Tai Industrial Park in Phu Thai Town (Kim Thanh). Despite knowing the potential risks of food safety, many workers still buy food to eat on time for work. Mr. N.D.K., a worker at a company in Kim Thanh District, said: "Many times, because I can't see or watch, I often buy food at the stalls right outside the company gate for convenience."

Early in the morning, right at the gate of Makalot Garment Company Limited on Ngo Quyen Street (Hai Duong City), there is a breakfast stall with a few plastic tables and chairs. On the table are rice rolls and uncovered pieces of ham. Plastic boxes containing soy milk, sticky rice, etc. are placed next to the vendor's feet. Because there are no trash cans, diners here carelessly throw tissues and trash right at their feet, creating a messy, unsightly scene.

In fact, the above images are not difficult to see at many gates of industrial parks, clusters, and other enterprises in the province.

How to manage?

According to Mr. Tran Huy Khuong, Head of the Department of Professional Affairs, Department of Food Safety and Hygiene of the province, the stalls selling in front of businesses belong to the street food group.Mr. Khuong said: "Because of their convenience and low prices, these shops still attract consumers, but they pose health risks."

In fact, the inspection of food safety compliance for street food businesses in general and food stalls in the area of ​​enterprise gates in particular is still limited. Inspection and punishment of violations by business people is not easy due to lack of human resources, while vendors often change locations, are not fixed...

During peak periods, the Month of Action for Food Safety and Hygiene, the Provincial Department of Food Safety and Hygiene always develops propaganda content, including content related to street food, and sends it to district-level health centers for propaganda on local loudspeakers. In addition, leaflets are distributed to communes, wards and towns to propagate and encourage vendors to voluntarily and strictly comply with the procedures from the selection and preparation of ingredients to the processing and display process to ensure food safety and hygiene.

Although Hai Duong has not recorded any cases of food poisoning from stalls at business gates in recent years, it is clear that the risk is always lurking. In the coming time, the authorities need to strengthen control and resolutely handle violations of food safety and hygiene for stalls in front of business gates. Vendors also need to improve their knowledge of food safety and hygiene when processing and trading food. Consumers need to say no to stalls that do not ensure food safety and hygiene conditions, contributing to improving their own health and that of the community.