Report to the Prime Minister the results of the fish sauce inspection before October 22

The Ministry of Health is working with relevant ministries and sectors to inspect the fish sauce market to report to the Prime Minister before October 22.

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Regarding the information that nearly 70% of fish sauce samples commonly used in the market contain arsenic exceeding the permitted threshold, many experts said that this is a preliminary result of the Association for Standards and Consumer Protection, and needs further research. The Ministry of Health said on October 18 that it is working with relevant ministries and branches to inspect the fish sauce market to report to the Prime Minister before October 22.

Director of the Department of Food Safety (Ministry of Health) Nguyen Thanh Phong said that since October 12, the interdisciplinary inspection team including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade has inspected the fish sauce market in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and will inspect Phu Quoc, Kien Giang... This time, the production process, circulation licenses and samples of many types of fish sauce will be inspected.

It is very difficult for consumers to choose fish sauce that meets standards (Photo: Nguoi lao dong)

Currently, Vietnam has about 2,800 fish sauce production facilities, supplying 2 million liters/year. All input materials for fish sauce production are controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Mr. Phong affirmed that initial inspection results show that no fish sauce products containing only chemicals mixed with water have been discovered as recently reported. Additives in fish sauce and chemicals are completely different. If the correct content and purity of additives in fish sauce are used, it will not affect the health of consumers.

The Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Dang Van Chinh, said that 4 months ago, the Ministry of Health assigned the task to local inspection forces to inspect fish sauce production and trading establishments in the area, as a basis for the Ministry of Health Inspectorate to inspect the fish sauce market in 2017.

“Currently, the Prime Minister has given instructions and the inter-sectoral agencies are inspecting and taking samples for testing. There will be official results soon. About 4 months ago, the Ministry of Health Inspectorate issued an official dispatch directing the Departments of Health to inspect the issue of fish sauce in particular and dipping sauce in general. When inspecting, it must be transparent and must be done thoroughly. The final product brought to the market and to consumers must be fully inspected and evaluated for quality,” said Mr. Dang Van Chinh./.

According to VOV.VN