Phu Tho: Ensuring food safety in business cafeterias enhance meal quality

DNHN - Currently, businesses in the province are cognizant of the fact that workers' health is the "health" of businesses to develop standards for selecting, preliminary processing, and processing food to enhance meal quality.

Currently, the province has 263 corporate canteens in industrial zones and clusters, 189 of which are managed by the Department of Health and 74 by district-level People's Committees. direct government oversight of food safety.

Signing contracts with industrial catering service providers of companies with a license to conduct business in the food production industry or businesses organizing their cooking to serve employees are two methods for serving meals in the enterprise's collective kitchens.

Hoang Thuy Trading and Service Co., Ltd., Thuy Van Industrial Park, Viet Tri City, which specializes in the food service industry and provides industrial meals, serves between 12,000 and 14,000 meals per day. More than fifty businesses in the province require food.

Mr. Vi Van Cuong, Sales Manager of Hoang Thuy Trading Service Co., Ltd., stated that with more than 15 years of experience in the industrial food processing industry, the company always prioritizes food safety. The company has signed contracts with reputable production facilities and cooperatives to obtain large quantities of raw materials. In the summer, when the weather is hot and food is easily spoiled, the Company has utilized specialized vehicles with an interior unit to cool and preserve food at the proper temperature during the relocation.

Currently, the development of industrial zones and clusters in the province has increased the demand for on-site catering services; consequently, the provision of shift meals at businesses is gaining popularity. Management of food safety must be conducted routinely and continuously, by the principle of ensuring safety at all stages of food production and processing.

Mr. Le Quang Thanh, Chairman of the Trade Union of Pearl Vietnam Garment Joint Stock Company, Duu Lau Ward, Viet Tri City, reported that the company cafeteria serves approximately 2,200 lunches to employees daily. To ensure food safety at all stages, from importing raw materials to dividing and serving food, the kitchen of the company always adheres strictly to the regulations and procedures in place.

The Food Safety and Hygiene Sub-Department has inspected and controlled food poisoning prevention and control at 33 industrial clusters and zone collective kitchens since 2022. During the process of food safety inspection and control, delegations utilized a rapid food safety test kit to test (screen) several physicochemical criteria for high-risk foods.

However, there are still several small-scale collective kitchens with requirements for food safety conditions such as processing equipment, preservation methods, and transportation duration. Some businesses have neglected and outsourced the work of ensuring food safety for meal suppliers, causing difficulties in the management of food safety in enterprise kitchens.

Mr. Dieu Quang Dao, Deputy Director of the Provincial Food Safety and Hygiene Sub-Department, stated that the Sub-Department has coordinated with other agencies to prevent food poisoning and food-borne diseases among workers in industrial zones and clusters. Departments, branches, and mass media agencies promote propaganda, advise, and request kitchens to strictly comply with regulations to ensure food safety; arrange and organize human resources to work in kitchens to ensure health, knowledge, and a strong sense of responsibility at work.

P.V