Most Vietnam Household Kitchens Exposed to Pollution

At least 23.2% of households in urban areas and 15.9% in rural areas cross Vietnam have kitchens located near polluted sources, threatening local residents’ health. This is the results of a recent survey by the Vietnam Military Medical University on 1,100 urban families and 1,100 rural households in 10 provinces and cities. Many household kitchens are located near wastewater ditches, open sewage pits and rubbish collection areas. Many families use the same chopping-board for both raw and cooked food. One-third of family kitchens in rural areas are also found to have many ants, flies and cockroaches. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has urged ministries and agencies, and local authorities to take drastic measures to ensure food safety and hygiene in a move to protect local people’s health. He suggested strictly enforcing the regulations of food safety and hygiene at slaughterhouses and food processing facilities, especially those in big cities due to the rising food poisoning cases. (Vietnam News Dec 22, Tuoi Tre Dec 21)