Hidden dangers of cheap buffet model

Cheap buffet restaurants are appearing more and more. With prices of just over or under 100,000 VND, diners can eat unlimited food such as beef, shrimp, squid, pork belly, vegetables and mushrooms... However, behind the convenience and cheap price are the dangers of food safety and hygiene.

The low-cost buffet business has been booming in many cities across the country in recent years, especially around universities, residential areas with a high concentration of students and low-income workers. In Vinh City, it is not difficult to see this business model just by driving along streets like Nguyen Huy Oanh, Tran Dang Dinh, Vo Thi Sau…

The cheap buffet restaurant on Tran Dang Dinh Street, Vinh City is always crowded with customers every day. Photo: PV

According to the reporter's records at a cheap buffet restaurant on Tran Dang Dinh Street, near Vinh University, the price is 139,000 VND/meal for adults, free for children under 1 meter. Every day, this establishment always attracts a large number of customers, many days it is full, motorbikes are parked on the sidewalk, the road, in which the majority of customers are students.

According to the reporter's observation, the trays at the store were filled with dozens of dishes, including beef, pork belly, tripe, intestines, cut squid, octopus, chicken, shrimp, etc., covered with colorful layers of spices. However, this area did not have a refrigeration system or insect protection. Many dishes showed signs of being frozen many times, were watery, and even smelled bad. Fried balls, sausages, fish cakes, etc. were often seasoned with very strong flavors, easily deceiving the taste buds, and the quality was difficult to verify. Some vegetables and mushrooms were also crushed and turned yellow.

For just over 100,000 VND, diners can enjoy dozens of trays of meat, squid, chicken... marinated colorfully, deceiving the taste buds. Photo: PV

Similarly, at a buffet restaurant on Nguyen Huy Oanh Street, Vinh City, for only VND89,000/person, diners can eat "unlimited" nearly 30 dishes, mainly fried foods.

The food trays are simply displayed on the stainless steel table, mostly fried chicken, fish balls, fried sausages, cheese-shaken potatoes, fried spring rolls, sausages… all are cold, many dishes have darkened in color from being left out for too long.

Fried foods left out for a long time, cold, not preserved. Photo: PV

This establishment also has no lid or heat-retaining counter, customers use shared tongs to get their own food, which has fallen many times and then been picked up and used again. The space is cramped and crowded, the smell of frying oil mixed with the smell of kitchen smoke makes the air stuffy. Although the prices are cheap and attractive, the quality and hygiene at these establishments make many people worry while eating.

NAT, a senior student at Vinh University, shared: “My friends and I go to the buffet every week because the restaurant has a lot of dishes and we can sit comfortably. I know the quality is not high, but we are students with little money, so the cheap buffet is still a reasonable choice. I think it is okay to eat selectively and moderately…”.

Cheap buffet attracts many young people to enjoy every day. Photo: PV

In reality, once the issue of food costs is put into business calculations, the cheap buffet model will reveal its true form as a "gamble" with the health of users. Ms. Le Thu Huong, Truong Thi Ward, Vinh City commented: "I have never believed in such cheap buffet restaurants. The current market price, a kilo of medium-sized shrimp is nearly 200,000 VND, beef, pork belly, squid, and chicken are all very expensive. Meanwhile, a person with only about 100,000 VND, but being served countless dishes, cannot have fresh, clean food."

Mr. Lai Minh Tung, a chef with 10 years of experience in the culinary industry in Vinh City, emphasized: “With a price of around 100,000 VND/person, it is impossible for buffet restaurants to use quality ingredients. Not to mention the many other costs such as premises, labor, electricity and water... Therefore, if selling at such a low price, the restaurant must use inventory, frozen goods for a long time or buy ingredients from unreliable sources.”

Buffet for only 89,000 VND/person, you can eat as much as you want at an establishment in Vinh City. Photo: PV

Faced with the above situation, the authorities need to strengthen the inspection and handling of low-cost buffet establishments that show signs of violating food safety and hygiene and origin. At the same time, it is necessary to tighten regulations on conditions for food service businesses, especially for models that serve large numbers of people such as buffets.

On the consumer side, especially young people - the main target group of cheap buffet restaurants - also need to raise awareness, not to trade health for cheap prices. Student groups should share information on safe food, encourage smart consumption and choose restaurants that ensure hygiene.

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/an-hoa-tu-mo-hinh-buffet-gia-re-10298335.html