Strictly handle violations of food safety

The case of Kera vegetable candy being fake food and deceiving customers had not yet subsided when public opinion was shocked again when Hanoi City Police discovered a huge fake milk powder production line at Rance Pharma International Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company and Hacofood Group Nutrition Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company. In the past 4 years, this line has produced nearly 600 brands of fake, poor quality milk powder of all kinds, illegally profiting more than 500 billion VND.

Báo Sài Gòn Giải phóng•15/04/2025

According to the investigation agency, the subjects in this fake milk powder production line discarded some input materials to replace and add some additives, so many types of milk powder had quality indicators below 70% of the announced level. Public opinion was even more outraged when many types of fake milk were labeled as products for people with diabetes, kidney failure, premature babies, and pregnant women.

The recent series of violations of food safety regulations and mass poisonings have made people increasingly confused and indignant about this problem. More worryingly, the production and consumption of fake, poor quality, and unknown origin food has been going on for a long time, but the authorities at all levels have not been able to prevent and handle it thoroughly.

According to the Ministry of Health, in 2024, there were 135 food poisoning cases nationwide, causing nearly 5,000 people to be poisoned and 24 deaths (compared to 2023, the number of poisoning cases increased by 11 cases and more than 2,677 people to be poisoned). This figure shows the seriousness related to food quality.

However, the above figures cannot fully reflect the harmful effects of “dirty” food when put into the human body. Many studies show that each year, Vietnam records more than 182,000 new cancer cases and over 120,000 cancer deaths, of which about 1/3 of cancer cases are due to diet.

To prevent food poisoning and stop poor quality food, it requires functional forces and authorities at all levels to be more proactive and regular in inspection and control work, resolutely fight, strictly handle and publicize all cases of food safety violations, and not just focus on the Month of Action for Food Safety.

KHANH NGUYEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/xu-ly-nghiem-hanh-vi-vi-pham-an-toan-thuc-pham-post790665.html