Recently, the Market Management force of Quang Tri province simultaneously inspected and discovered and dealt with many businesses selling smuggled MSG (monosodium glutamate) imported from Thailand (MSG brand "The Spoon") at various markets in the province.
During inspections at wholesale markets in Quang Tri province, such as Dong Ha, Dien Sanh, and Quang Tri markets, market management forces discovered and dealt with many businesses selling smuggled MSG. However, this number only reflects a fraction of the current situation regarding the smuggling of MSG in the province.
The provincial market management force inspected and seized smuggled MSG under the brand name "The Spoon" from many businesses.
This is not the first time local market management authorities have conducted inspections of smuggled MSG from Thailand. It's clear that as long as people's preference for foreign products doesn't change, the smuggling of MSG will continue.
Smuggled MSG is rampant due to... the public's preference for foreign products.
It is known that this "Spoon" brand MSG is manufactured by THAI FERMENTATION IND. CO.,LTD. in Thailand and transported to Laos. From there, the "Spoon" brand MSG is smuggled across the border between Vietnam and Laos, then transported by road to markets in the Vietnamese domestic market for consumption. The smuggled "Spoon" brand MSG packaging lacks any information in Vietnamese regarding origin, labeling, product ingredients, or expiration date.
The packaging of the smuggled MSG completely lacks any information in Vietnamese.
With no information about the product, unknown ingredients, and no apparent harmful effects, why do consumers still use this smuggled MSG, and why has it seemingly become a habit in their cooking?
When we asked this question to Ms. TH, a food vendor at Dong Ha market, we received the answer: "Foreign goods are naturally better than Vietnamese goods." Ms. MT, also shopping at the market, said that her family had been using this type of MSG for a long time and, although she didn't understand the words printed on the packaging, she still trusted it because "it's a Thai product."
With such mindsets, genuine, domestically produced MSG with quality guaranteed by the state is met with indifference from consumers. Furthermore, although the price of this smuggled MSG is about 5,000 VND/500g pack higher than domestically produced products, it still dominates the MSG market in Quang Tri province in particular and the central provinces in general.
Furthermore, something that consumers overlook and are unaware of is the presence of counterfeit versions of this smuggled MSG on the market. Consumers find it very difficult to distinguish between genuine smuggled MSG and counterfeit versions, often thinking they've bought a genuine product (smuggled goods) when in reality they've bought a fake, which is even more dangerous.
The "unforeseen" harms of MSG of unknown origin and source.
According to nutrition experts, smuggled MSG, MSG of unknown origin, and counterfeit products do not guarantee food safety and hygiene and always pose a potential risk to the health of consumers.
Regarding the quality of this smuggled MSG, Dr. Tran Thi Kim Chi, Head of the Nutrition Department at Gia Dinh People's Hospital, stated: " The immediate harm to consumers' health is acute poisoning or allergic reactions from the impure ingredients in smuggled MSG products. Consumers may experience symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain within a short period after consumption."
Even more dangerous, the hidden part of the iceberg that we are unaware of is long-term chronic poisoning, which can affect vital organs in the body, leading to liver failure, kidney failure, or even, over many years, the accumulation of toxic and harmful chemicals that are carcinogenic, increasing the risk of cancer .”
Besides affecting consumer health, smuggled MSG also causes significant damage to the national economy , as it is a fraudulent act of tax evasion and also impacts legitimate businesses.
It is clear that people's consumption habits are giving smuggled MSG, and smuggled goods in general, more opportunities to survive in the market and continue to pose a worrying threat to food safety and hygiene. Let's be wise consumers to protect our health, our families' health, and contribute to the economic development of the country.
PA.
PA.
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/bot-ngot-nhap-lau-van-hoanh-hanh-186655.htm
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