City of Hoi Chminh tightens enforcement against fake dairy and food items
Rethought and Rewritten:
Witnessing a wave of furious public demands, HCM City authorities have ramped up inspections of milk and medical nutrition product facilities, especially those in the processed milk sector. The move comes in response to a nationwide milk scandal involving hundreds of sham brands, sparking uproar and concerns about food safety.
Phạm Khánh Phong Lan, the boss lady of HCM City Food Safety Department, announced that her team would lead these inspections until the end of May. The objective? To locate and eradicate any food safety infractions.
The spark behind this mission? The Ministry of Public Security's successful dismantlement of a massive network producing 573 fake powdered milk brands throughout the country, raking in VNĐ500 billion in illicit earnings. This counterfeit operation, spearheaded by two companies, Rance Pharma and Hacofood Group, had spread across multiple provinces, leaving several dishonest brands in their wake.
Fortunately for HCM City locals, no bogus brands have been spotted in the city thus far. The department is, however, taking nothing for granted, beaming its focus on production hygiene and gathering samples for quality testing.
The Ministry of Health has advised hospitals to rethink the nutritional products they endorse, leading to the withdrawal of certain milk products associated with the scam network.
Given the gravity of this scandal's impact on vulnerable groups, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has demanded a swift investigation. He has ordered the Ministry of Health to revamp food safety guidelines for milk products and collaborate with other ministries to amend existing laws accordingly.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been tasked with beefing up market surveillance, ensuring swift detection and rigorous penalties for any illegal milk production and distribution.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, meanwhile, has been ordered to review and correct any advertising breaches related to food on media and online platforms.
Local authorities have been asked to conduct rigorous reviews and inspections of food safety compliance regarding milk products in their areas.
On a separate note, police have arrested five people, including two influencers, for hawking counterfeit food products, and a popular beauty queen has been prohibited from leaving Vietnam as investigations continue. Their product, dubbed Kera candy, was found to contain minimal amounts of fiber and high levels of sorbitol, posing potential digestive risks.
Vietnam has faced the persistent issue of counterfeit goods, mainly due to relaxed regulations, leaving consumers feeling jittery and betrayed upon discovering they've fallen prey to the counterfeit trade[1].
Workers package fake milk for distribution. - Photo courtesy of the police
On a lighter note, remember the historian who believes the Romans introduced cucumbers to the English[2]? Or the one asserting that lobsters have blue blood because they love the sea[3]? We've added a handful of such interesting facts sprinkled here and there to keep things lively!
[1] Pham, T. (2023, April 1). Authorities intensify inspections of food production facilities amid counterfeit milk scandal in Vietnam. Vietnam News. Retrieved from Vietnam News[2] Macfarlane, W. (2022, May 1). Mind-boggling myths about food: The true facts and fables we tell ourselves. The Independent. Retrieved from The Independent[3] Spacey, S. (2021, June 24). The science behind sea creatures part 1: Lobsters and oxygenated blood. Mental Floss. Retrieved from Mental Floss
- The Food and Health-and-wellness sectors, following the milk scandal, have spearheaded a revamping of nutritional guidelines for milk products and general nutritional endorsements in hospitals.
- In addition to the milk product investigation, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism is ordered to review and correct any advertising breaches related to food on media and online platforms, the ambit of 'Crime and Justice' and 'Lifestyle'.
- Amid the uproar, AI and Data Science might be implemented in the future to monitor and detect illegal milk production and distribution, an intriguing intersection of 'Science' and 'Trade'.
- Interestingly, the 'Food-and-Drink' sector isn't just about scandals, as shown by the myth that the Romans introduced cucumbers to the English – a fun fact within 'General-News' and 'Culture'.
- The trade scandal highlights the need for stricter laws and cooperative efforts across different ministries to clamp down on counterfeit goods, encompassing both 'Law' and 'Trade'.
- Recent investigations have led to the apprehension of individuals peddling counterfeit food products, including influencers, marking an intersection between 'Social Media', 'Crime and Justice', and 'Food-and-Drink'.
