Hanoi’s authorities have detected food safety violations in an incredible nearly 8,000 food processing facilities in the first five months of 2016.

Tonnes of dirty and low-quality food seized

On May 17, Hoang Duc Hanh, deputy director of Hanoi Department of Health, said 7,872 facilities had violated regulations out of 48,899 facilities inspected. 6,227 facilities were fined for a total of USD591,000.

The inspections are aimed to prevent smuggling and monitor processing facilities. Four mobile units have been formed to inspect food safety issues at festivals, conferences and major political events.

Hanh said local authorities had been cracking down on food safety since early of the year. They have also started to address the problem and assigned specific responsibilities to agencies.

The Department of Health is proposing with the city people's committee to establish five interdisciplinary inspection teams that will react quickly to breaking news.