 Even though we have laws, are health standards actually improving in the Lao eateries? Mr Phonxay Kingkittisack, 24, a resident of the Nong Niew village, said: "I don't know that if food traders do follow the law because I see they do the same things as the restaurant in my school. I haven't seen anything change with out food laws. If we want traders to cook healthy food it is quite difficult, because even if they cook by the law they still have customers to provide for. In most noodle shops there aren't any authorities to check whether the food is healthy. Many shops put cannabis in the soup that makes people get hooked. As I see the economy in our country right now it is very difficult to change the ideas of traders to abide by laws immediately. Talking is easy but actually doing something is difficult. If we want the authorities to check the health standards of meals or food, we have to use many authorities and there should be a sector developed to address the issue. I don't think the government has enough budget to do things like that. We have to use many inspectors because there are a lot of shops and restaurants, and the government has to pay money for them. For me I don't hope the authorities will check food right now because we have a food law. We have to improve step by step. I would like the authorities to stop mobile food shops. Those selling food on the streets should be stopped; we don't want to give other countries the opportunity to criticise." Ms Hoi Keodalavong, 26, a resident of Thongkhankham village, said: "Even though there is a food law, I don't think they enforce it; they might do, but I don't know, they might check only the big restaurants where foreigners go. I see most traders along the markets and along the roads don't pay much attention to keeping healthy food. They hurry to cook, and hurry to sell because there have many people waiting to buy. This problem makes me sure that their meals are unhealthy. I would like the authorities to check all the food shops because our health is important. I see that some people have to go to the hospital because they'd have eaten an unhealthy meal, and it is a cause of disease if we always have unhealthy standards when cooking." Ms Chanthone Phosalath, 24, a resident of A-kard village, said: "Many food traders don't care about the health of their consumers. They always use so much seasoning powder when they cook, this is not good as there are some chemicals in it that affect our health, so I want all traders to reduce using this ingredient. If possible the authorities should go and check and warn them. In Laos I still don't see them doing this." Mr Bounking, a food trader near the Mahosot hospital, said: "No authorities come to check my shop; it might be because it is quite small. I try to make my shop clean. I have all kinds of food which I keep in a glass cupboard to protect them from flies and dust. They have laws, but I don't think they travel around to check; if they do decide to check, they have to inform the authorities of the village before they come. If there is checking and advice, I have to follow them because it is not too difficult, usually I cook well and I am sure it is healthy." A resident in Vientiane, said: "I can't understand why there is a food law, we have the law or don't use it. I don't see the authorities checking restaurants, advising or telling traders. I think many traders don't know that there is a law, so how can they improve their cooking and health standards? If the laws are made public, they should be enforced or adopted." Ms Pheng Soundala, 29, a resident of Nongtha village, said: "Before I buy food I will look at the traders, if the trader is good looking then I will buy, but I wouldn't know whether their food is healthy or not because I watch while they are cooking. I think the authorities should check restaurants and follow the laws that they make. If the trader don't do follow the law, they should not be allowed to run their businesses. In other countries there is regular checking of food standards." |
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