The dairy market is unpredictable.

Information about several businesses producing fake milk being exposed has caused considerable concern among consumers in Hai Duong.

Consumers need to do thorough research and choose reputable milk brands, buying from trustworthy establishments to ensure quality (photo taken at BRG Mart supermarket in Hai Duong ).

Panicked after buying fake milk.

When nearly 600 types of counterfeit milk were discovered on the market, many consumers in Hai Duong felt confused and worried. Immediately, many people compared the milk they and their relatives were using with the counterfeit milk that had just been exposed by the authorities, and were shocked to realize that they had been buying fake milk all along.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thu L. from An Thanh commune (Tu Ky district) is one such case. Her child breastfed until 1 year and 6 months old. Before that, Ms. L. supplemented with formula, but her child didn't cooperate. After weaning from breast milk, Ms. L. began researching various formula brands, checking reviews and ratings from other mothers in online groups, and searching for information about different brands online. She tried several types of formula and finally, her child accepted PC100 – a formula advertised for children aged 1-6 who are picky eaters, slow-growing, or underweight and need nutritional supplementation, with many ingredients imported from New Zealand, manufactured by Rance Pharma.

“This milk costs 460,000 VND per box, and my child has been drinking it for over a year. When I saw that nearly 600 types of counterfeit milk were announced, I was shocked to see that the milk my child was drinking was on the list. Knowing I had bought fake milk, I stopped using it immediately. There were sleepless nights, looking at my child with heartache and blaming myself. I am very worried, not knowing how using fake milk for a long time will affect my child's health,” Ms. L. said.

This is the type of milk that Ms. Hoang Thi Thu L. in Tu Ky has been using for her child for over a year. This milk is on the list of nearly 600 counterfeit milk products discovered by authorities (photo provided by the interviewee).

As someone who highly values ​​dairy products for the health of her family, Ms. Pham Hoang M., residing on Thai Hoc Street, Sao Do Ward (Chi Linh), was introduced to a milk product purchased online. For over a year, Ms. M. persistently gave this product to her 5-year-old child. After taking her child for a nutritional check-up at the National Children's Hospital, Ms. M. found that her child's iron and calcium levels were lower than average. When the doctor explained the nutritional content of the milk, Ms. M. was shocked to discover that the milk she had chosen lacked essential protein, iron, and vitamins… “There are many types of milk on the market, and I can't distinguish the quality of the different ones. Each box of milk I bought cost 500,000 - 600,000 VND, I wasn't just looking for a cheap option,” Ms. M. shared.

Not only are low-quality milk products infiltrating the market and deceiving consumers, but another tactic many milk shops use to rip off customers is the sale of "hand-carried" imported milk from abroad, including brands from Japan, the US, and Germany. These products lack Vietnamese labels and documentation proving their origin.

Before the recent exposé of nearly 600 counterfeit milk products, many were shocked when, in August 2024, the Criminal Investigation Agency of Chi Linh City Police Department initiated criminal proceedings against Nguyen Trung Vuong (born in 1983, residing in Co Nhue 1 Ward, Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi ), General Director of Ha Lan Milk Joint Stock Company, for the crime of producing and trading counterfeit food products. During the investigation, the police collected 67 product samples from 33 different products of Ha Lan Milk Joint Stock Company. The inspection results showed that 65 out of the 67 product batches had quality indicators below 70%, totaling 29,400 cans/boxes of milk with an invoice value exceeding 4.1 billion VND.

Choose to buy from reputable establishments.

Many imported milk products are being sold without the required Vietnamese labels (photo taken at a grocery store in Hai Duong City).

Mr. Tran Dinh Nam, Head of the Provincial Food Safety and Hygiene Sub-Department (Department of Health), said that the Food Safety Department ( Ministry of Health ) has requested localities to review and provide information related to establishments producing and trading counterfeit milk. Through the review, from 2021 to the present, 11 businesses involved in the recently exposed counterfeit milk production and trading ring in Hai Duong province have failed to register their products.

According to Mr. Nam, the dairy products of these 11 companies may be sold at their business premises in Hai Duong. Consumers can purchase them at the store or easily through social media channels and e-commerce platforms.

The Provincial Food Safety and Hygiene Department regularly inspects and checks dairy products. However, dairy businesses in the province are small-scale and widely distributed, with limited personnel and insufficient funds for sampling and testing, making it difficult to assess product quality during inspections. According to Mr. Nam, to choose quality milk, consumers need to research carefully, select branded milk, and purchase from reputable establishments to ensure quality.

Mr. Tran Van Toan, Head of the Provincial Market Management Department (Department of Industry and Trade), said that in response to the 2025 Food Safety Action Month from April 15th to May 15th and in the coming period, market management teams will continue to strengthen inspections and reviews of certain groups of goods and products, especially milk, to promptly handle any violations detected.

Eleven companies involved in the fake milk production and trading ring include: Rance Pharma, Hacofood Group, Quoc Te Group, Quoc Te Big Four Pharma, Long Khang International Pharmaceutical Group, BFF Medical Nutrition, Safaco International Pharmaceutical Group, Darifa International Pharmaceutical Group, Win CT International Pharmaceutical, Phuc An Khang Nutritional Pharmaceuticals, and Asia Pharmaceutical.

THANH HUYEN

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/kho-luong-thi-truong-sua-409557.html