The Capital’s War on Fast Food: Hanoi’s Fight to Keep Students Healthy

THE HANOI TIMES — In response to concerns over food safety, the Hanoi authorities are conducting stringent inspections of fast food stalls located near schools.

The Hanoi Department of Health has developed a special plan to scrutinize the sources of raw materials, food additives, cooking oil, grilled meat, and skewers served at these establishments.

The street food stalls along Phan Dinh Phung Street in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh District are a popular hangout for young people. Photos: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times

Vendors selling unhealthy food around schools have been subject to strict penalties. Additionally, the Hanoi Department of Health has been actively disseminating knowledge about food safety and poison prevention measures among business owners and street vendors.

According to the department, consuming unhygienic food can lead to serious health risks, including food poisoning, intestinal infections, digestive issues, and the long-term accumulation of toxins, which can eventually become carcinogenic.

Consumers are advised to opt for restaurants that maintain high cleanliness standards. In particular, students should refrain from purchasing food from dusty areas, places with heavy traffic, or locations that lack proper food hygiene and safety practices.

The department emphasizes that all food production and service businesses operating near schools must obtain food safety certification and consistently adhere to these standards.

Furthermore, the city is mandating training and health checks for individuals involved in food preparation near schools to prevent foodborne illnesses effectively.

“We are placing a strong emphasis on outreach and education to raise awareness about food safety in the vicinity of schools,” shared Pham Thi Hien, Deputy Director of the Health Division in Dan Phuong District, in an interview with The Hanoi Times.

However, Hien acknowledged that ensuring food safety in these areas is an ongoing challenge. She emphasized that it requires sustained and long-term efforts rather than temporary solutions or half-hearted measures.

Strict Enforcement of Food Safety Regulations

Hanoi’s health sector has intensified its monitoring and inspection activities, conducting surprise visits to food businesses, suppliers, street vendors, and canteens, while also addressing any violations promptly.

With over 77,000 enterprises involved in food production, processing, trading, and street food vending in Hanoi, the scope of this task is significant. This includes more than 10,000 food producers, nearly 25,500 food traders, over 35,000 food service providers, and approximately 5,800 street food vendors.

A snack stall on Xuan Thuy Street in Cau Giay District offers a variety of fried meatballs, shrimp skewers, and chicken skewers, among other treats.

In the past three months, the city has implemented a comprehensive program to enhance food safety, with a particular focus on peak periods like the Lunar New Year.

According to the Hanoi Food Safety and Hygiene Department, ensuring food safety has been a collaborative effort, requiring close cooperation between various agencies and institutions responsible for food safety management.

Additionally, the city has been working closely with neighboring provinces to control the sources of food ingredients supplied to Hanoi and to establish a system of traceability for these ingredients.

To prevent foodborne illnesses, Hanoi has established a model for controlling food safety in the kitchens of 214 primary schools across the city, resulting in meticulous management practices.

The health sector has also expanded its food safety model at large gatherings to proactively prevent food poisoning incidents. This model now covers 440 communes, wards, and towns across 20 districts.

In Ba Vi District, which is home to 120 schools and nearly 150 food service establishments, local management includes routine inspections conducted by the commune People’s Committees.

“During the first quarter of this year, we inspected nearly 100 establishments, and 76% of them were found to meet food safety standards,” shared Tran Quang Khuyen, Vice Chairman of the Ba Vi District People’s Committee, in an interview with The Hanoi Times. “Any unauthorized snacks or food items without a clear origin were promptly confiscated and destroyed.”

Khuyen also mentioned that a special plan has been implemented for the 2024-2025 school year, focusing on strengthening food safety checks around schools. He added that over 90% of establishments have met the food safety criteria and ensured the traceability of their food sources.

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