Vietnam reported 125 food poisoning incidents that left 28 dead and more than 2,100 sick in 2023, according to data released at a food safety conference chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Hong Ha in Hanoi on Wednesday.

Health authorities across the country checked food safety regulation compliance at more than 382,000 businesses and discovered over 34,500 violations.

Out of these, fines totaling VND44.4 billion (US$1.8 million) were imposed on over 12,000 businesses.

Agriculture inspectors examined upwards of 19,300 agro-forestry-fishery manufacturing businesses, levying administrative fines worth over VND14.4 billion ($594,000) on roughly 1,600 facilities.

Industry and trade authorities conducted inspections, addressing over 6,770 food safety violations.

They imposed a total of VND36.3 billion ($1.4 million) in fines on violators and seized goods worth VND31.6 billion ($1.3 million).

Among the above-mentioned 125 incidents related to foodborne illness, the country recorded several cases of botulinum poisoning.

Botulism is a serious illness caused by clostridium botulinum, a poisonous bacteria which grows in badly preserved food.

It is a rare disease, both in Vietnam and in the world, according to the Drug Administration of Vietnam.

In 2022, the country logged 54 food poisoning events in which 1,359 people got sick and 18 lost their lives to foodborne illness.

Speaking at the conference, Pham Khanh Phong Lan, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety, which began official operations on January 1 this year, said Vietnam had developed an appropriate legal framework on food safety management, but food safety regulations should be enforced in a more effective and substantive manner.

Tran Thi Nhi Ha, director of the Hanoi health department, pointed out that the interdisciplinary teams tasked with inspecting businesses for compliance with food safety regulations lacked profound expertise in the field.

Ha recommended the application of information technology to food safety management and the development of a nationwide food safety map.

Authorities should also encourage local people to engage in activities which oppose food safety violations, He said.

Concluding the conference, Deputy PM Ha said food safety issues remain complicated and alarming in Vietnam.

He asked the central interdisciplinary steering committee for food safety to review the implementation of the 2010 Law on Food Safety while reinventing measures to raise public awareness about food safety.

He also urged relevant ministries and agencies to facilitate the application of technology to their operations in order to make it easier for businesses and individuals to register to publish their food quality scores.

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