Unsafe food continues to creep in and out of the market.

Although authorities have been strengthening inspection, control, and strict handling of violations in the field of food hygiene and safety, the reality shows that unsafe and contaminated food affecting consumer health still infiltrates the domestic market and circulates through increasingly sophisticated and difficult-to-detect methods.

The story that is causing a stir in public opinion and on social media is that recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Investigation Agency has initiated a case, indicted and temporarily detained Huynh Van Truong (47 years old, residing in Can Tho City) for violating food safety regulations. Truong confessed to buying sodium silicate, also known as "liquid glass," at Kim Bien market for 6,000 VND/kg and then soaking it in snail meat before selling it on the market.

The investigating agency determined that from 2021 to the present, Truong has used approximately 500 tons of industrial chemicals to soak about 3,000 tons of snail meat, illegally profiting billions of dong. This act is considered particularly serious, showing disregard for the health and lives of the people.

In Hanoi, the Economic Security Department of the Hanoi City Police, in coordination with Market Management Team No. 14 of the Hanoi Market Management Department, inspected a processing facility belonging to Dung Phat Production and Trading Co., Ltd., located in Van Phuc village, Nam Phu commune. During the inspection of the cold storage facility, authorities discovered approximately 59 tons of raw intestines frozen in three containers for 4 to 6 months, one ton of intestines undergoing preliminary processing, and 3.6 tons of finished intestines. Most of the intestines had a foul odor, were discolored, and did not meet food safety standards. The warehouse also contained tons of finished products used as sausage casings, ready for market distribution. At the scene, police also found various types of seeds and powders of unknown origin. The owner of the facility was unable to produce invoices or documents related to the goods.

The Hoành Mô Border Gate Border Guard Station arrested a suspect transporting 240kg of frozen pork trotters of unknown origin across the border.

In Quang Ninh province, in the days leading up to the 2026 Lunar New Year, the trade and transportation of food of unknown origin has shown signs of increasing with increasingly sophisticated methods. Recently, in Mong Cai 1 ward, the Economic Police Department of Quang Ninh Provincial Police, in coordination with Market Management Team No. 4, conducted a surprise inspection of a warehouse owned by Le Hai Minh. At the scene, authorities discovered a large quantity of food, including over 2,500 kg of sausages and nearly 1,300 kg of various types of squid, lobster, and dumplings. During questioning, the warehouse owner admitted to collecting these goods, worth over 217 million VND, from various unregulated markets and storing them in the warehouse to sell for profit closer to Tet. Even more concerning, this establishment completely lacked a business license and a food safety certificate as required by regulations. The case is currently under further investigation and will be handled strictly.

Earlier, the Tra Co Border Guard Station, in coordination with the police and customs forces, inspected an unregistered wooden raft in the waters of Mong Cai 1 ward. They discovered the raft was transporting nearly 1 ton of frozen pork offal. The operator, Hoang Van Chung, born in 1983, residing in Trang Lo neighborhood, Mong Cai 1 ward, could not present any documents related to the vessel or invoices proving the legality of the goods. The incident was recorded and processed according to the law.

Given the complex developments in food safety violations affecting consumer health, Quang Ninh province has requested member agencies of the Provincial Steering Committee 389 and local authorities to continue to thoroughly implement the directives of the Central Government and the province, proactively proposing synchronized tasks and solutions, focusing on decisive and effective combat to manage the area, preventing the formation of hotspots, networks, and complex groups involved in counterfeit goods, commercial fraud, and smuggling. This is especially important for goods that significantly affect and harm the health and lives of the people, such as food, cosmetics, medicines, and functional foods. From now until the Lunar New Year of the Horse, relevant agencies, functional forces, and local authorities should proactively strengthen surprise inspections, effectively control, and promptly detect and strictly handle violations in accordance with the law.

As the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse) approaches, the consumption of goods and food increases significantly. This is also a time when unscrupulous individuals take advantage to produce, trade, transport, and sell counterfeit goods, imitation products, and unsafe food that does not meet consumer safety standards. Therefore, in addition to increased inspections and enforcement by authorities, each citizen needs to be more vigilant, use branded products, and shop at reputable centers and supermarkets.

Peace

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/thuc-pham-ban-van-am-tham-len-loi-xam-nhap-thi-truong-3394479.html