Enjoying spring and celebrating Tet safely

Along with leisure and entertainment activities, rising demand for consumer items creates a chance for food of unknown origin and low quality to enter the market. As a result, under the guidance of the Provincial People’s Committee, all levels, branches, and units in the province have planned and implemented several solutions to assure commodities supply, food safety, and cleanliness prior to, during, and after the event.

Authorities investigate Tet-related merchandise in Ha Hoa district supermarkets.

Ensuring an adequate supply of commodities.

On December 21, 2023, the Provincial People’s Committee issued Plan No. 5113/KH-UBND to implement solutions to ensure supply and demand balance, market stability, and a heightened fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods before, during and after the 2024 Lunar New Year. At the same time, to guarantee the balance of supply and demand for necessary commodities, the Department of Industry and Trade has cooperated with the province’s agencies and communities to construct and implement The plan’s goal is to reserve critical items, maintain supply and demand equilibrium, and stabilize the market by the end of 2023 and the Lunar New Year of 2024.

Items for the Lunar New Year are now available in a wide range of quantities and designs. Tet products, including as cakes, jams, sweets, soft beverages, nuts, and other needs, are prioritized in the most conspicuous locations in stores and supermarkets.

Currently, the province has four commercial hubs, 15 supermarkets, 197 traditional markets, and over 20,000 service outlets, assuring a sufficient supply of commodities to serve people throughout Spring and Tet.

Customers purchase Tet cakes and candy at Go Viet Tri Supermarket.

Improving food hygiene and safety inspections

Ensuring food hygiene and safety is a regular duty that is not only the responsibility of the government, but also the obligation of every family member. People’s understanding of the need of eating clean and healthy food has grown as a result of propaganda efforts. However, as consumer demand and food consumption rise, particularly around the end of the year, the risk of losing food cleanliness and safety stays disguised.

The Department of Health has issued Document No. 12 /SYT-NVY&QLHN January 3, 2024 on strengthening the implementation of tasks to ensure food safety and prevent food poisoning during the Lunar New Year Giap Thin and the 2024 Spring Festival season, with the goal of allowing people to celebrate Tet, enjoy Spring safely, and maintain their health.

Accordingly, health units in the province will intensify propaganda and distribution of methods to maintain food hygiene and safety and avoid food poisoning, particularly by choosing to purchase, prepare, and keep safe food. Do not buy or use food of unknown origin, imported food without supplementary labeling in Vietnamese, or food from manufacturing and commercial enterprises that do not assure safety; Do not buy or keep excessive amounts of food during Tet...

The competent forces conduct multidisciplinary inspections on food hygiene and safety prior to and during Giap Thin’s Lunar New Year and the 2024 Spring Festival season; In the event of an emergency, arrange for unexpected and specialized food safety inspections of food items, organizations, and persons manufacturing and trading food in the region. At the same time, establish a strategy to investigate and handle food poisoning cases (if any), completely prepare human resources, methods, equipment... to quickly handle and report food poisoning and assist.

Simultaneously, develop a strategy to investigate and handle food poisoning incidents (if any), as well as completely prepare human resources, tools, and equipment to properly handle and report food poisoning and support downline in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Mr. Dieu Quang Dao, Deputy Director, Department of Food Safety and Hygiene, stated, "We will focus on checking the implementation of regulations on ensuring food hygiene and safety such as: Certificate of qualified establishments, commitment to food production safe products, health certificates, confirmation of food safety knowledge of facility owners and people directly involved in food production and trading; food production, processing, and preservation processes; origin. As a result, infractions must be detected and dealt with as soon as possible, and they should be publicized in the media. Along with inspection efforts, we incorporate messaging about food safety for managers, producers, enterprises, and consumers."

Along with the active and proactive involvement of the authorities, to prevent the risks of food poisoning before, during, and after the Giap Thin Lunar New Year, every citizen should be a “wise consumer,” purchasing and using foods with full origin and clear expiration dates from qualified, certified businesses. Limit the use of beer, wine, and alcoholic drinks to avoid poisoning, allowing everyone in every home to enjoy Tet safely, cheerfully, and happily.

Le Hoang