Fake milk case: Nearly 600 milk products, only 71 types are granted product declaration

On April 17, the Hanoi Department of Food Safety and Hygiene announced the results of the review, which shocked the public. Of nearly 600 products labeled as nutritional foods and foods for special diets produced and circulated on the market by Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical Company and Hacofood Group Nutrition Pharmaceutical Company, only 71 products, accounting for about 12%, were granted a certificate of acceptance of product declaration registration in Hanoi.

From 2021 to present, Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company has submitted 67 declaration dossiers, while Hacofood Group has only 4 dossiers.

Notably, all 71 licensed products are common nutritional foods. There are no records related to product groups specifically for special groups such as people with diabetes, people with kidney failure, pregnant women, premature or underweight babies, and groups with weak resistance, who are vulnerable to serious harm if using substandard products.

From 2021 to present, Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company has submitted 67 declaration dossiers, while Hacofood Group has only 4 dossiers.

According to the leader of the Hanoi Food Safety Department, this agency has received, inspected and processed according to regulations. Thus, nearly 90% of the remaining products were self-declared in other provinces and cities.

More seriously, among the unlisted products in Hanoi, many are labeled as foods for special diets or for use by infants, young children, people with chronic diseases, and those with special nutritional needs and sensitive to any deviations in ingredients.

Products such as Sure IQ Gludiabet milk (for diabetics), Kid Baby Talacmum (for children 0-12 months old), IQ Grow Talacmum, Gain Talacmum or Talacmum for Mum (for pregnant women) are being widely promoted as specialized medical products, but have never had a registration file for publication at the competent authority in Hanoi.

Faced with this situation, the Food Safety Department ( Ministry of Health ) has sent an urgent document to the Department of Health of provinces and cities and related agencies in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi... requesting an urgent and comprehensive review of product declaration activities, issuance of certificates of production conditions, inspection, examination and handling of administrative violations against the two above companies in the period from 2021 to present.

According to Decree 15/2018/ND-CP, the announcement and registration of product declarations are mandatory for health protection foods, medical nutritional foods, foods for special diets and products for children up to 36 months of age. The registration dossier must include valid test results, scientific evidence proving the product's effectiveness and full information about the ingredients and manufacturer.

However, many products today are taking advantage of self-declaration in less controlled localities to bring goods to the market, deceiving consumers with eye-catching packaging and attractive advertisements.

Experts warn that using fake milk or milk with incorrect declared ingredients can cause serious consequences, especially for people with weak resistance such as young children, people with chronic diseases and pregnant women.

When the actual nutritional content is only 70% of the advertised amount, drinking three glasses of milk a day is only as effective as drinking two glasses. This condition, if prolonged, can cause the patient's health to decline, slow recovery, and even worsen underlying diseases.

For young children, the danger is even greater. Dr. Nguyen Duc Nghia, lecturer at Hanoi Medical University, warned that children have incomplete immune and digestive systems, so they are very vulnerable to using fake or poor quality milk.

The harmful effects can be vomiting, diarrhea, allergies, even bacterial and fungal infections if the product is produced and stored in unsafe conditions. More seriously, some products may contain heavy metals or toxic additives, affecting the liver, kidneys and brain development of children.

To protect the health of themselves and their families, consumers need to be alert and vigilant when choosing nutritional foods. Experts recommend only buying products from reputable brands, distributed through official channels such as pharmacies, large supermarkets, and certified mother and baby stores.

You need to carefully check the packaging: anti-counterfeit stamps, QR codes, clear manufacturer information, full expiry date, not blurred or peeling. Absolutely do not buy milk through social networks, livestreams or unofficial platforms - where quality is almost uncontrolled.

In the context of the increasingly expanding market for functional and nutritional foods, the case of nearly 600 unqualified products still circulating is a warning bell about the laxity of post-control management and the sophistication of commercial fraud.

It is time for the authorities to further tighten the inspection system, increase the responsibility of localities in licensing, inspection and post-inspection, and at the same time step up communication to raise public awareness. Because public health, especially children, sick people and pregnant women, cannot continue to be compromised by products disguised as “nutritional” but are of poor quality, even life-threatening.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/vu-sua-gia-gan-600-san-pham-sua-chi-71-loai-duoc-cap-cong-bo-san-pham-d268971.html