January3, 2012

Rising substandard food alarms Vietnam capital

Vietnam's health authorities have warned its most populous city, Ho Chi Minh, of the increasing number of poor-quality food products, prompting consumers' health concerns.

Nearly 100% of 1,833 food and drink samples tested in Ho Chi Minh City from May to November have not reached full standards for safety food.

The samples belong to 12 food groups, including meat, vegetable, fruit, seafood, milk, cereal, sauce and spice, soft drinks, confectionary, coffee and tea, beverages and wine, and functional food which were bought randomly in local supermarkets, markets and kiosks.

Most of them produced at private and small businesses are being sold in markets, and even supermarkets with unclear origin.

Vegetables topped the list with 91% failing to meet the standards, followed by seafood with 84%, beverage and wine 61%, and meat, cereal, sauces and spices amounting to 58%.

"We want to plan for a safe Lunar New Year," Phan Thi Kim, head of the Vietnam Science and Technology Association for Hygienic Food, said, proposing authorized agencies to boost investigation into trading and producing facilities and wholesale markets, as well as to impose tougher punishments on the violations.

Promoting education about hygienic food for customers and introducing prestigious food brand names is also urgent works, especially ahead of the coming Lunar New Year festival or Tet holiday, she added.

Vietnam planned to launch the 2012 Action Month for Food Quality, Hygiene and Safety nationwide from Jan 10 to Feb 10, aiming to reduce the number of food poisoning cases during the festive season by 10% compared to the same period of 2011.