Recently, the Market Management Force (QLTT) has continuously discovered and seized hundreds of tons of smuggled sugar of unknown origin and quality , raising concerns about consumer health.
In the context of smuggled sugar continuing to flood the market in the days leading up to Tet, the burning question is what unpredictable health hazards are threatening consumers.
The "dirty" journey from production to packaging and preservation of smuggled sugar
Along the border provinces with Laos and Cambodia such as Quang Tri, An Giang, Long An, Tay Ninh, Binh Phuoc, Dong Thap, Kien Giang,... hundreds of thousands of tons of smuggled sugar mainly originate from Thailand, through Laos and Cambodia, then are "magically" conjured by smugglers at substandard facilities on the other side of the border, then smuggled deep into the interior for consumption without going through quarantine or food safety inspection.
According to the GAIN report of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the export volume of white sugar and refined sugar from Thailand to Cambodia and Laos in the 2021/22 crop year was 1,087,895 tons, accounting for 34%, becoming Thailand's largest export market for white sugar and refined sugar, and the final destination of this huge amount of sugar is smuggling into Vietnam.
*Source: Statistics on sugar export output from Thailand to Cambodia and Laos - Summary of sugar industry overview report 2023
Tay Ninh Market Management Force discovered and seized 6,400 kg of smuggled white sugar in Trang Bang town, Tay Ninh province on December 20, 2023.
After entering Vietnam, smuggled sugar is often mixed, even “dyed” to suit domestic tastes and reduce costs, then decanted into 12 kg bags (bags); or packaged in eye-catching packages and released to the market, both in traditional markets and “online markets”. Not only that, smuggled sugar is mainly stored in warehouses that do not ensure hygiene conditions, do not have a standard preservation system, and do not have invoices or documents.
" Many types" of smuggled sugar flood the market
According to the analysis of many health experts, smuggled sugar during the transportation and decanting process will inevitably be contaminated with harmful impurities. Not to mention, smuggled sugar traders also mix different types of sugar, including expired sugar; use industrial dyes to “dye” sugar to profit from the price. Therefore, even though it is “camouflaged” in eye-catching packaging, smuggled sugar still contains many dangers to consumers’ health.
Consumers "get sick"
To ensure high quality for their sugar products and protect consumers' health, reputable domestic sugar manufacturing enterprises have to spend a lot of money on the production process, from physical and chemical standards, color, to packaging, branding, etc. Meanwhile, low-quality smuggled sugar, with the help of profit-seeking traders, is still smuggled into the market and openly sold at points of sale, making consumers, even though they are vigilant, unable to avoid confusion and mistaken purchases.
From December 2023 to present, the Market Management Force (MMP) of provinces across the country has continuously arrested and confiscated dozens of tons of smuggled sugar. For example, in the past 15 days alone, the MMP force in Quang Binh said it had discovered and seized 7.5 tons of smuggled sugar. . Or on December 23, 2023, Long An Market Management force discovered and arrested a vehicle transporting 2 tons of smuggled sugar. The closer to Lunar New Year, the more "hot" and complicated the sugar smuggling situation becomes, in terms of quantity, scale and tricks.
Director General of the General Department of Market Management Tran Huu Linh informed that from now until the Lunar New Year, there will be a general inspection in areas, warehouses, goods gathering points near the border, wholesale markets, roads, railways, etc. In addition, it will coordinate with functional forces to regularly inspect densely populated areas with high consumption of goods such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, thereby preventing the smuggling of essential consumer goods.
With the daily use in the kitchens of every Vietnamese family, and also being an important ingredient, used in large quantities every day in confectionery and food companies, restaurants, industrial kitchens,... it is thought that if using smuggled sugar, unknown origin, mixed sugar, sugar with impurities... then in the long run it will be very harmful to the health of consumers and the health of the whole community.
“From a professional perspective, to ensure health, it is best for consumers to buy packaged sugar with a clear origin,” Dr. Vo Van Khiem, Head of the Cai Rang District Health Department, recommended.
It is worth mentioning that not only causing negative impacts on people's health, sugar smuggling and violations in general commercial activities also cause heavy losses to business revenue, loss of state budget, creating an unhealthy business environment, unfair competition affecting the domestic business and investment environment.
PA
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