Medicinal herbs "exposed" in the middle of Ha Tinh market.

Many kinds of herbs are sold at Ha Tinh market.

The herbs were packaged in plastic bags, with no clear origin or source.

At Ha Tinh Market (Thanh Sen Ward), there is a section dedicated to selling herbal products with many stalls. Here, buyers can find all kinds of traditional medicines and herbs... However, the products displayed and dried in this area pose a significant hygiene risk...

The products, packed in plastic bags and pouches, are left exposed to dirt and dust from countless passersby, as well as bacteria and smoke carried in by the wind from the street. When customers inquire about purchasing, the vendors often use their bare hands to pick and select herbs directly from the bags. When we questioned the hygiene of the products, one vendor replied, "No need for preservation," or simply advised, "Just wash them at home."

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Traditional Vietnamese medicine floods the market, bringing risks... into homes!(Baohatinh.vn) - At many local markets in Ha Tinh, various types of traditional Vietnamese medicine, herbal remedies, and Chinese medicine are sold indiscriminately, but their origins are unclear, posing many potential health risks to the people.

The salesperson used bare hands to handle the products for sale to customers.

Many consumers, due to habit and trust in the "harmlessness" of herbal products, easily overlook unsanitary conditions. Ms. Duong Thi Ha My (Thanh Sen ward) said: "I also saw herbal products being sold uncovered or vendors using their bare hands to package the products, but this is quite common, all goods are like that, so I thought it was probably okay."

Herbs are being dried on the market floor.

The naive belief that "homegrown" produce is safe has led many to forget that improper harvesting, drying, and storage methods can be far more dangerous.

According to the Distinguished Physician, Doctor of Medicine Duong Ba Ngoc - former Deputy Director of the Ha Tinh Traditional Medicine Hospital, herbs dried on the ground will be contaminated with smoke, dust, and heavy metals; storing them in damp environments like markets will cause mold growth, especially aflatoxin - a substance with extremely strong liver cancer-causing potential. The idea that simply washing and boiling is sufficient is completely wrong. Because when people brew and drink these herbs daily, these toxins will gradually accumulate in the body, causing damage to the liver, kidneys, and many other organs without them even knowing.

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