The Food Hygiene and Safety Department of the Ministry of Health announced on May 29 that out of 37 food poisoning cases in the first five months of the year, eight people are reported dead.
This year 1,613 people suffered from food poisoning of which 1,513 were hospitalized.
In May alone, the country had 10 food poisoning cases from seven provinces of Cao Bang, Thai Nguyen, Quang Ninh, Thua Thien-Hue, Bac Lieu, Vinh Long and Nghe An. 116 out of the 138 people were hospitalized.
According to authorities, two out of ten food poisoning cases are due to eating poisonous mushrooms and a kid of goby, microorganism causes four and four have unknown sources.
In related news, hundreds of Taiwanese companies are recalling food and drink products containing carcinogenic chemical diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) as the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Department is stepping up control of imported drinks.
DEHP, a cost-effective general plasticizer used chiefly to make PVC soft and pliable, is commonly used in fruit jelly, yogurt mix powder, juices and other drinks to keep emulsions well dispersed.
The Department of Food Hygiene and Safety had tested imported drinks, especially Taiwanese products.
The department will reveal their findings this week.
