Ho Chi Minh City intensifies food safety oversight amidst pressure from Can Gio sea-encroachment project
HCMC tightens food safety control in Can Gio as the workforce grows, requiring improved oversight and management solutions from local authorities.
The concentration of approximately 16,000 to 22,000 workers around the sea-encroachment project is creating significant challenges in the management and oversight of food safety in Can Gio, HCMC.
On August 12, a supervisory delegation from the Standing Committee of the HCMC People's Council, led by Vice Chairman Huynh Thanh Nhan, conducted working sessions with the People's Committees of Can Gio, Binh Khanh, An Thoi Dong, and Thanh An communes. The primary objective was to assess the status of food safety management in the context of major demographic shifts.
According to the report, the Can Gio Sea-Encroachment Tourism Urban Area project has attracted a large workforce, leading to a surge in collective kitchens, eateries, and mobile catering services. The coastal terrain, humid climate, and frequent fluctuations in the labor force make controlling food sources more complex than ever.
Furthermore, following the reorganization of administrative units, food safety officials at the commune level are currently working in concurrent roles, while diagnostic equipment for rapid testing remains limited. Localities have requested that the HCMC Department of Food Safety provide additional testing kits and professional training.
To date, Can Gio commune has conducted 214 inspections, collected 345 samples for rapid testing, and fined 10 industrial catering enterprises a total of over 92.4 million VND. Since July 2025, no food poisoning cases have been recorded in the area.
Concluding the session, Mr. Huynh Thanh Nhan emphasized the importance of Can Gio as a strategic growth pole for HCMC. Local authorities must prioritize the close supervision of school kitchens, collective kitchens, and street food establishments to safeguard the health of the community and tourists.