Loopholes for fake milk to thrive

Diabetes and kidney failure are chronic diseases that require lifelong treatment and strict control of nutrition. Complications of diabetes can lead to amputation (amputation of limbs), blindness, and even death if not treated properly. In Vietnam, about 7 million people are suffering from diabetes, which is a burden on the country's health and economy. As for the leaders of the fake milk chain, they see this as an opportunity to make money on the health and lives of their people.

Even more heartless, when they target premature babies, premature babies and pregnant women, they are targeting the lives and development of future generations! Fake, low-quality milk boxes with unknown ingredients silently accumulate during pregnancy and in newborns, with unpredictable consequences!

Yet, nearly 600 types of fake milk have been circulating for the past 4 years (not just 4 months) in an almost public and transparent manner. The abnormality lies in the fact that, during all those years, no inspection by the authorities has detected any abnormalities?

According to some food management experts, the fake milk in this chain is milk with added micronutrients. However, it is necessary to determine whether they are registered as health protection foods or medical nutritional foods, products for special diets, nutritional products for children up to 36 months old? These are groups that must register their product declarations with the competent state agency before being put on the market.

This identification will determine whether the Ministry of Health or the locality receives and evaluates the registration dossiers for the nearly 600 types of fake milk powder mentioned above. This will also put an end to the situation of "playing the ball" of responsibility between ministries and branches in recent days!

Currently, depending on each food group, businesses will declare products according to regulations or self-declare products, helping to reduce administrative procedures for businesses. However, there is a risk that businesses will send good quality products for testing but when actually produced, the quality is completely different!

Therefore, self-declaration or announcement is only truly effective when the post-inspection work is substantial instead of superficial. The fake milk powder ring that has been rampant for a long time is the answer to the effectiveness of management and post-inspection work in the food sector.

A nutritionist said that experts can rely on the nutritional ingredients/nutritional labels of products to analyze the impact and effectiveness on health. However, when the nutritional label announces one thing and the actual quality is another, even doctors are helpless, let alone patients and consumers.

And we cannot demand that consumers be smart, while the authorities and local authorities have almost not heard, seen, or known anything about the fake milk powder chain for the past 4 years!

MINH KHUE

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/lo-hong-de-sua-gia-hoanh-hanh-post791000.html