Following a serious case of food poisoning at the Nguyen Van
Troi Primary School in District 2, affecting 97 pupils on April 2,
officials from the city’s Department of Health (DoH) on April 3 announced
that food and drink samples will be tested.
The instant milk packs, Ovaltine, that are linked to the
poisoning were produced on July 9, 2008 and expire January 7, 2010. They
were produced and provided free by Dutch Lady.
Test results will be published next week.
A series of school food poisonings in the city have alarmed parents.
Last December, poisonings at two pre-schools in Districts 5
and 9 affected 534 pupils, many were taken to hospital.
In 2008, the city reported seven cases of food poisoning at
pre-schools, affecting 638 pupils while they were two cases in 2007. The
increasing number of food poising cases has worried parents.
School management boards should be careful of food poisoning.
They should keep school kitchens clean, said Huynh Le Thai Hoa, head of the
DoH’s Food Hygiene and Safety Division.
In addition, head teachers must demand contractors provide
food hygiene certificates and sources of food.
The departments of Health, and Education and Training have
signed a document to cooperate in ensuring food hygiene at schools.
DoH will provide training to teachers about food safety and
pay inspections to school canteens.
DoH will also strengthen hygiene training and will improve
facilities in kitchens.
The departments’ efforts appear to be futile, as more food
poisoning cases have taken place since they began working together. Hot
weather and lax behavior by school staff are conducive to food poisonings.
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