No toxic residues found in Chinese milk grapes in Vietnam

According to information from the Plant Protection Department, in 2024, this unit has included a food safety monitoring program for imported grapes. After testing 10 samples of grapes imported from China, the results showed that no samples violating food safety (pesticide residues) were detected. In 2023, 77 samples were tested and 1 sample (1.3%) was found to violate Vietnamese regulations.

In response to the news that Chinese milk grapes were found to contain toxic substances in Thailand, the Plant Protection Department said that it will contact and obtain official information from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Thai FDA. Based on the analysis results and official warnings from Thailand, the Department will consider and apply strict inspection methods to imported grape shipments from China.

At the same time, continue to exchange information on international food safety warning channels to assess food safety risks for Chinese grapes. However, information on this issue needs to be officially reported by management agencies (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) to avoid causing inaccurate public opinion.

No toxic residues have been found in Chinese milk grapes in Vietnam.

It is known that food safety inspection of imported fruit shipments is currently being carried out in accordance with the provisions of Decree 15/2018/ND-CP dated February 2, 2018 of the Government promulgating detailed regulations for the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Food Safety.

The Decree stipulates 3 methods of food safety inspection including: strict inspection, regular inspection and reduced inspection. Which method is applied is based on food safety risk assessments for imported shipments/items:

In which, the reduced inspection method: checking the records of a maximum of 5% of the total number of imported shipments within 1 year, randomly selected by the customs authority. The normal inspection method only checks the records of imported shipments. Finally, there is the strict inspection method, in which the records are checked in combination with sampling for testing.

Based on monitoring data, post-inspection, domestic and international food safety warnings, and food safety violations over the years, specialized management agencies decide to apply regular inspection methods or strict inspections to shipments and items.

Currently, all fruit batches, including grapes, imported into Vietnam are subject to the usual food safety inspection method (only checking documents). The order and procedures for food safety inspection are implemented according to the provisions of Decree 15.

According to the Plant Protection Department, in addition to food safety inspection of imported fruits before customs clearance, every year, this agency also implements a food safety monitoring program for imported plant-based foods, through sampling and analyzing food safety indicators, especially focusing on indicators of pesticide residues on imported fruits.

The purpose is to assess the safety level of imported foods, demonstrated through compliance with Vietnam's food safety regulations. At the same time, it serves the food safety inspection of imported plant-based goods, prevents shipments that do not ensure food safety, and protects the health of domestic consumers. From there, promptly propose to the management agency to supplement or change the inspection criteria and inspection items for imported foods to suit the actual situation.

Recently, public opinion was stirred by the news that the Thai Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN) had issued a warning about the contamination of milk grapes after discovering that most of the collected fruit samples contained toxic chemical residues exceeding the maximum allowable level.

Shine Muscat grapes (milk grapes) are a famous grape variety of Japan. This type of grape has appeared in the Vietnamese market for nearly ten years with a rather modest quantity due to its high price. However, in recent years, when China expanded its growing area, Chinese milk grapes have flooded the Vietnamese market in large quantities, and the price is also getting cheaper.

This type of milk grape has large, glossy green fruit, with or without seeds. When ripe, the grapes have a rich sweet taste and a very special milky aroma. Currently, Chinese milk grapes are sold everywhere in supermarkets, stores, online markets and on sidewalks at super cheap prices from a few tens of thousands of VND/kg, so they are very popular.

PHAM DUY

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/chua-phat-hien-nho-sua-trung-quoc-ton-du-chat-doc-hai-tai-viet-nam-ar904993.html