The possible appearance of unhygienic food and products of unclear origin in the run up to the forthcoming New Year and Tet festivals is a particular headache for Da Nang authorities. Therefore, in an effort to ensure people's health, the Da Nang Food Safety Management Board has taken many effective measures in a timely fashion so as to ensure the market stability and food safety.

A staff member of the Han Market Management Board checking the QR stamps to trace the origin of goods in a bid to ensure food safety before the 2022 Lunar New Year. Photo: XUAN DUNG

Protecting interests of consumers is top priority

According to the Da Nang Food Safety Management Board, the end of the year is always a good time for products of unclear origins to break into the market. Homemade products with unverified ingredients and quality have been sold widely online. Especially, during this time, production facilities involved in Tet confectionery and food have been rushing all days trying to ensure the adequate supply for the market to satisfy the needs of local residents for the upcoming holidays.

As observed, the bustling working atmosphere has been recorded at the Do 37 organic agricultural product production facility in Ngu Hanh Son District.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Oanh, the manager of the Do 37, said that her facility has set a target of providing about 3 tons of chicken jerky with lemon leaves to the Tet market. She added ensuring food safety and hygiene is her top priority. All finished products are sent to the Centre for Quality Assurance of Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Products Zone 2 for testing before supplying to the market.

The check of the origin and quality of products has been put in place at wet markets and supermarkets. For example, over the past times, traders of food products at the Han Market are required to attach quick-response (QR)-coded labels on the packaging of their products before they sell them to consumers with the aim to uphold their responsibility in producing quality food and ensuring food safety.

Hoang Cung Thuong Duc, the Deputy Head of the Management Board of Han Market, said that from now until the New Year and the Lunar New Year 2022, the management board would actively coordinate with the municipal Food Safety Management Board and the city’s Market Management Sub-Department to conduct food inspections at the market, as well as remind market stallholders to comply well with the city’s regulations about food safety and hygiene.

Piloting food traceability software

In order to well control the origin of food, most recently, the Da Nang Food Safety Management Board has piloted the food traceability software on 4 groups of food: meat - eggs, vegetables - fruits, seafood and packaged products.

During the first phase, this software has been deployed at pork suppliers and slaughterhouses from purchasing, slaughtering to retailing.

Mr. Doan Quang Thuyen, Director of the Hai Thuyen Trading and Service Co., Ltd - the pork supplier said that although tracing origin of goods definitely costs time and money, his business still registered for the pilot programme for a long term because this is an opportunity to improve product quality and affirm their prestige with consumers.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tan Hai, Head of the municipal Food Safety Management Board, the implementation of the tracing systems for food was considered a stepping stone for businesses to gradually improve quality and responsibility to the community. These systems have benefited residents, production businesses, and State management agencies.

As planned, starting from the end of December 2021, 3 food safety management teams under the management board will conduct random inspections of manufacturing facilities operating in the city in order to detect and handle any violations relating to food safety and hygiene. The focus will be on taking food samples and testing for the presence of prohibited substances in food, including of borax and sodium benzoate.

In addition, heed will be paid to raising public awareness of selecting health food for the sake of their health.

Reporting by XUAN DUNG - Translating by M.DUNG