Prevent unsafe food

Customers bustlingly shop on the weekend at Co.opmart Huynh Tan Phat, District 7 - Photo: Hong Chau

We have established a strict control process, from raw material area, factory production to product circulation in the system, especially preservation.

Mr. NGUYEN NGOC THANG (Deputy General Director of Saigon Co.op)

This is the response process of Vietnamese retailer Saigon Co.op in the program "Controlling the quality of goods in Ho Chi Minh City" which has just been deployed since March 2024.

Circulating goods must be safe for users.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thang, Deputy General Director of Saigon Co.op, said that the increasing demands of consumers in controlling the quality of goods are forcing retailers to join hands and cooperate to create new standards of food safety in the modern retail market.

He said: Currently, Saigon Co.op is one of eight retail units actively participating in the program "Controlling the quality of goods in Ho Chi Minh City".

We are implementing a pilot control program with three main product groups including fruits, vegetables and meat, applicable to many types of products such as Cat Chu mango, Sanh orange, green-skinned grapefruit, white dragon fruit, pork, chicken, and many other vegetables.

Our goal is to ensure that products circulating in the system meet quality and safety standards for consumers.

* What is special about the quality control process that Saigon Co.op is applying compared to other retailers?

- We have established a strict control process, from raw material areas, factory production to product circulation in the system, especially preservation.

Saigon Co.op not only relies on current standards but also proactively adds internal control measures.

Steps such as inspection, testing through mobile laboratories, sensory evaluation, and quarantine are carried out periodically and randomly... This helps us detect promptly if there are any problems with food quality or safety.

We also work closely with manufacturers and suppliers to ensure the quality of goods before they are put into the supermarket system.

This demonstrates Saigon Co.op’s commitment to providing consumers with safe, quality and reliable products. With the cooperation of farmers and manufacturers, the goods on supermarket shelves must meet the announced standards.

In addition, businesses also proactively upgrade and improve products to a higher level, in line with consumer trends.

* If a product is found to be of substandard quality, what is the handling process?

- In case of detecting a product that does not meet standards, we will immediately stop circulating that product in the system.

At the same time, this information will be reported to the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City and other distributors so that they can also check and prevent similar products. A review of the cause will be carried out quickly to determine whether the error is due to an incident or a systemic problem.

We always ensure that the process is very quick, at the latest within 24 hours of detecting the problem. This is to prevent poor quality products from continuing to circulate and affecting consumers.

We also coordinate with authorities to inspect raw material and production areas, ensuring that any issues are thoroughly resolved if the product violates food safety and hygiene.

Customers shopping during peak hours are still supported by Co.opmart staff to make quick payments - Photo: Hong Chau

Contribute to building product standards for supermarkets

* Can you share more about Saigon Co.op's efforts in expanding quality control to other product groups?

- Yes, Saigon Co.op is gradually expanding its control to other food groups such as dry, frozen, and processed foods. This is to meet the increasing demand of consumers for safe and quality products.

We have signed contracts with 23 suppliers to participate in the program, not only limited to fresh products but also gradually expanding quality control to other food groups such as dry, frozen and processed foods.

We believe that with the cooperation between retailers, suppliers, and authorities, a new standard for food safety can be established.

Saigon Co.op and seven other distributors, including: SATRA Mart, AEON, MM Mega Market, Central Retail, Bach Hoa Xanh, King Food and Wincommerce, have jointly committed to act towards this goal.

This cooperation will create a new standard for food safety in the modern retail market, bringing peace of mind to consumers when shopping at Saigon Co.op's system as well as modern retail channels.

Currently, the modern retail system accounts for about 30 - 40% of the retail market share, this number in big cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi... is slightly higher.

As for the group of vegetables and fruits, the rate in modern retail channels is quite high. People have developed the habit of buying these items at supermarkets and stores because they feel more secure about the quality.

Therefore, I believe that strict quality control at distribution channels will contribute to raising awareness and standards of the Vietnamese retail industry.

* To achieve this goal, what do you think are the challenges that Saigon Co.op is facing?

- The biggest challenge is probably maintaining and improving quality standards in an ever-changing market environment.

This requires Saigon Co.op to continuously update and apply new inspection technologies, while closely coordinating with suppliers and authorities.

Another challenge is how to maintain consumer trust and encourage them to participate in monitoring product quality.

Saigon Co.op also proactively works with its business partners to encourage them to participate in the program.

The joint implementation of this agreement will take time, but we will calculate to promote it soon, towards signing with all suppliers. This is an action that benefits all parties.

With its mission, Saigon Co.op is committed to always being a pioneer in controlling product quality and ensuring food safety for consumers.

We understand that our responsibility is not only to provide products but also to ensure the health and safety of the community.

Saigon Co.op will continue to improve quality standards, expand control programs, and bring consumers the best products.

General quality standards for bringing products into the supermarket system include:

1. Products must fully comply with food safety regulations (no pesticide residues, heavy metals, microorganisms, prohibited substances...).

2. Product origin must be honest and accurate.

3. The product's shelf life must be safe and in accordance with the declaration.

Saigon Co.op is gradually affirming its pioneering role in ensuring product quality and food safety in Ho Chi Minh City.

The commitments and efforts of Vietnamese retailers not only meet consumer expectations but also contribute to creating a new standard for the Vietnamese retail industry.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ngan-chan-thuc-pham-khong-an-toan-20240924074959329.htm