The Ministry of Health provides guidance to the public on choosing safe food during Tet (Lunar New Year).
According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, Director of the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health), the demand for confectionery, soft drinks, beer, wine, and essential food items such as meat and sausages increases dramatically during the Tet holiday. Without experience in choosing these products, consumers may end up using counterfeit or substandard goods, posing a health risk.
Below are guidelines from the Food Safety Administration to help consumers choose safe products:
The first principle is to choose food with clear origin, production date, and expiration date, complete labeling information, and that is not spoiled, moldy, or has an unpleasant odor.
Consumers also need to be very cautious with brightly colored foods because these products may contain artificial colors and additives that are harmful to health.
Upon discovering products suspected of being counterfeit, of poor quality, or food production, processing, or trading establishments that do not meet food safety standards, people should proactively cooperate and inform the authorities (such as market management agencies, the Department of Industry and Trade, and local governments) so that they can take measures to inspect, monitor, and promptly prevent such activities.
Confectionery falls under the category of food products that are generally required to meet food safety standards. Specifically, products circulating in the market must declare compliance with food safety regulations at the competent health authority.
Therefore, choose to buy confectionery products that have been certified as compliant with food safety regulations (check the label for the symbol: (serial number)/(year of issuance by the Ministry of Health + abbreviated name of province/city - XNCB)).
Choose confectionery from reputable brands with clear origins, and avoid buying counterfeit products that imitate the design and brand.
Carefully examine the information on confectionery packaging (place of manufacture, production date, expiration date, ingredients, storage instructions).
When buying gift baskets, pay attention to the quality of the candies and cookies inside. It's best to choose the candies and cookies yourself and ask the shop owner to arrange them into a gift basket.
To celebrate Tet safely and ensure the health of yourself and your family, every citizen should be mindful to choose and consume food from establishments with fixed locations, clear addresses, a good reputation, and that are licensed to sell food and fully comply with regulations on food business conditions.
Similarly, with alcohol, it's essential to buy only those with clear origins to avoid the risk of purchasing counterfeit alcohol mixed with methanol, which is extremely dangerous and life-threatening. Drinking counterfeit methanol can cause brain damage, blindness, and affect internal organs. In fact, methanol poisoning cases have a very high mortality rate, and even if the victim survives, they often suffer from long-term consequences.
For fresh foods like meat and fish, it's best to buy them in moderation to ensure proper preservation and prevent spoilage, rancidity, and bacterial contamination that could lead to food poisoning.
