Following international recalls in Germany, the UK, France, and Australia due to suspected Cereulide toxin contamination, the Ministry of Health has issued an urgent directive to strengthen quality control within the domestic market. Cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus bacteria, can cause acute poisoning and organ damage, posing a severe risk to young children.
The core of this action plan focuses on enhancing local testing capabilities. Specialized units are tasked with developing specific testing methods to identify Cereulide toxins in milk and nutritional product samples. Simultaneously, synchronized post-market surveillance will be conducted to ensure early detection and prompt recall of substandard products before they reach consumers.
While Vietnam has not yet recorded any poisoning cases linked to the warned batches, authorities emphasize that proactive prevention is vital. The Ministry of Health has also assigned specialized national institutes to provide technical guidance and professional support to local agencies, ensuring accurate testing results and effective food safety management.