December 3, 2006

Findings in Vietnamese milk plant inspection out soon

Although the Ministry of Health in Vietnam has completed its overall inspection on its fresh milk production plants, results would not be immediately available as further studies are necessary to ensure the quality of milk sold in the markets. 

Ministry official Tran Quang Trung said any erroneous declaration regarding the inspection would affect milk consumption and of the whole local dairy industry. He added the findings would come out soon after milk samples have been carefully analysed.

The inspection, done on September 29, would serve as the groundwork for the General Department for Quality Standards and Measurement to decide whether to conduct another assessment on milk manufacturing facilities.  

The inspections of the plants were prompted by the failure of the country's dairy cow breeding programme.

According to experts, the total output of fresh milk produced in Vietnam can only meet 22 percent of the total requirement of milk processing factories.

Most fresh milk producers admitted that they had to import powdered milk for raw material source. 

The inspection was also provoked by companies' mislabeling of their products.

Leading producer Vinamilk earlier admitted labeling mistakes, stating that its powdered milk are fresh milk. This earned the ire of media and many accused the company of trade fraud. Another milk conglomerate Dutch Lady also confessed using imported powdered milk for their fresh milk products.

Under Vietnamese milk regulations, fresh milk products should really come from fresh milk and if it is mixed with powdered milk, the powdered milk content must not exceed 1 percent.

Most liquid milk products sold are still branded as sterilised fresh milk despite its poor quality and improper information content on their labels.