VietNamNet Bridge – A reported 700 people were hospitalised because of food poisoning last week in HCM City, raising fears about hygiene in the run-up to the Tet (Lunar New Year).

About 200 workers from Pungkook Sai Gon Ltd Co in Tan Thuan Export-Processing Zone, District 7, were hospitalised because of chronic food poisoning on the night of December 25.

Two days later, 140 students and care workers at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Primary School in District 12 also came down with food poisoning.

Meanwhile, 320 workers at three companies in District 12 fell sick after eating bacteria-infected food on December 30. It was the worst reported food-poisoning case in the city in the last six months.

The food was supplied by Toan Cau ltd Co in Binh Chanh District.

The city's Health Department has taken food samples for inspection and temporarily closed the catering plant.

Huynh Le Thai Ha, head of the city's Food Safety Department, said caterers had been told to state the source of the meals they prepared.

"Those that fail to do so will be shut down," Hoa said.

According to the Viet Nam Food Administration, in 2010, 4,700 people suffered serious food poisoning in the country – 40 of whom died.

Most of the food-poisoning cases were due to either bacterial contamination or chemical toxicity.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News