Independent certification – A basis for consumers to choose powdered milk

"How can we know if milk is safe and pure enough?" is a concern for consumers in Vietnam, especially parents.

Following news reports, Ms. TL (33 years old, Hai Duong ) was understandably worried when she saw that the brand of milk her child was using was on the list of counterfeit milk products recently announced by authorities. "I've lost sleep because I don't know how counterfeit milk will affect my child's health," she confided.

According to Buzzmetrics statistics, there were over 12,000 discussions on social media about "fake milk" in the four days since the incident was exposed. The majority were shared experiences and complaints from parents who had unfortunately purchased substandard products. In this context, the milk market needs an objective evaluation mechanism to act as a "filter," ensuring consumers place their trust in the right products.

The importance of independent certification

The existence of non-profit organizations specializing in food quality testing is quite common in developed countries such as the US and Europe. Testing conditions are based on strict regulations regarding the control of contaminants in food.

One of the reputable independent organizations is the Clean Label Project (USA), which has awarded the Purity Award – a prestigious certification for product safety and purity. To achieve this award, powdered milk products must meet more than 400 stringent quality and production condition criteria, ensuring no pesticide residues, heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic), or industrial chemicals (BPA, BPS, phthalates).

These compounds pose potential health risks, affecting the nervous system and causing endocrine disruption in young children. In developed countries, printing independent certification labels on packaging indicates that the product is safe for consumers.

Following reports of counterfeit milk, very few Vietnamese consumers pay attention to the purity aspect when buying milk for their children, mainly comparing the quantity of ingredients. However, leading Vietnamese manufacturers like Vinamilk have never taken this standard lightly.

In 2022, Vinamilk's Optimum Gold brand appeared on the Clean Label Project website with the introduction "First Asian brand to win the Purity Award". By early 2023, all of the company's remaining infant formula lines, such as Dielac, YokoGold, Optimum Colos (formerly ColosGold)... also received the Purity Award. This is a positive sign for the Vietnamese dairy industry, as the previously recognized brands were mostly from the US and Europe.

Jaclyn Bowen, CEO of the Clean Label Project, said that consumers are increasingly demanding higher quality and transparency in product information, especially for children's food. This is a target group that needs more attention regarding quality and safety standards.

"The awards given by the Clean Label Project are given to brands whose products prioritize the purity of their ingredients. Therefore, we highly appreciate the efforts and proactive approach of businesses like Vinamilk in setting higher standards for children's milk products," she affirmed.

The key to making pure milk.

The path to achieving independent certification is fraught with difficulties, with a series of stringent criteria. Among them, inconsistent and non-closed production lines create "loopholes" that allow impurities to contaminate the milk.

In Vietnam, Vinamilk's powdered milk factory in VSIP 1 Industrial Park ( Binh Duong ) always ensures a synchronized and closed-loop system. As the only company in Vietnam to own its own drying tower, Vinamilk independently manages the drying of nutritional components, meaning it is not dependent on suppliers and can proactively control the purity of its raw materials.

The drying tower capacity in Vinamilk's factory can supply milk rations for millions of children every day.

The drying tower capacity in Vinamilk's factory can supply milk rations for millions of children every day.

The milk powder is mixed and poured into cans in a completely sterile environment, equivalent to hospital operating room standards. Vinamilk also handles the canning and packaging printing itself, all automated in a synchronized production line, with UV sterilization at all times.

In fact, according to Vinamilk, ordering tin cans from external suppliers carries the risk of poor quality, not to mention that the transportation process to the factory can create "gaps" for the environment and humidity to affect the packaging, indirectly impacting milk quality. Self-manufacturing cans and packaging is crucial for Vinamilk to control the risk of bacterial contamination and metal leaching back into the milk.

Automated production line at Vinamilk's powdered milk factory in Vietnam.

Recently, Vinamilk has opened its factories to welcome consumers for tours. Here, they have the opportunity to see, hear, and verify the company's closed-loop production line.

“Upon entering the factory, I didn't see many workers because most of the processes are automated. The air here is odorless, proving that the production line is completely closed. Seeing is believing, more so than a thousand advertisements,” shared Mr. KH (36 years old, Ho Chi Minh City).

Trust is built on transparency.

In the context of widespread information and advertising on online platforms, consumers are increasingly wary of vague "clean" and "safe" claims, especially in the infant nutrition industry. Instead, they tend to seek out brands with verifiable data, clear processes, and third-party verification.

From a consumer's perspective, factors such as international certification, transparent processes, and independent periodic inspections are not just "added value," but essential criteria for making purchasing decisions. Understanding this need, Vinamilk's strategy of investing in raw materials, transparent production processes, and international standards helps maintain consumer trust amidst a "crisis of confidence" in the dairy industry. This is also the brand's effort to contribute to raising consumer awareness and affirming the importance of setting higher standards for quality control when choosing products for young children.

Consumers are delighted with the cans of pure milk fresh from the factory.

Ms. TL - the mother from Hai Duong mentioned in the story at the beginning of the article - decided to switch to Dielac after researching its quality and testing information. "I'm very happy that my child is accepting the new formula, and I'm also glad that I don't have to worry about product quality anymore," she shared.

NL

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/chung-nhan-doc-lap--can-cu-de-nguoi-tieu-dung-lua-chon-sua-bot-248915.htm