Beware of Chinese instant noodles

Turned away by domestic consumers, instant noodle manufacturers in China are looking for ways to push their products into the Vietnamese market.

The natives refused.

According to statistics in 2015, China is one of the 5 largest instant noodle consuming countries in the world. However, in 2016, many instant noodle manufacturing enterprises in China are facing many difficulties and have to consider new business opportunities.

Earlier this year, China's largest instant noodle maker, Tingyi, was removed from Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index after its profits fell 60%. China's instant noodle sales have fallen 6.75% this year, the fourth consecutive year of decline.

One of the reasons for this decline is that Chinese people are concerned about their health after a series of food safety scandals involving instant noodles in this country led to a boycott. There were allegations that Chinese instant noodles contained chemical plastics. Already known to be unhealthy due to high salt and additives, the above scandals made instant noodles even less attractive.

Photo for illustration purposes only

In fact, these doubts have not only appeared recently but have existed for many years. However, in the context of China's economic development and the increase in people's income, a package of noodles costing a few thousand dong is no longer in their minds.

Therefore, Trung Quang instant noodle manufacturing enterprises must look to emerging economies in Asia such as Vietnam to develop. Because Vietnam is also one of the 5 countries that use the most instant noodles in the world, a pack of noodles is still a popular choice for many low-income workers.

Vietnamese people are wary of Chinese goods.

In a survey by Ho Chi Minh City Women at several supermarkets in late September 2016, most consumers expressed doubts about Chinese instant noodles, many even asserted that if they knew it was Chinese goods, they would not use it for any reason.

At Co.op Mart, 4/6 instant noodle shelves are sold products made in Vietnam, with prices ranging from 3,000 VND/package to 4,200 VND/package. These are also popular products sold at Big C and Lan Chi Mart at similar prices. The rest are some other types of noodles such as Korean and Japanese hot noodles, which are also sold quite a lot.

Mr. Thanh (35 years old - Thanh Xuan, Hanoi) said: "Vietnamese noodles have an attractive taste and are purely Vietnamese. I chose them because I like them and they suit my taste," said the customer.

When asked if he would consider choosing a Chinese instant noodle product if it was cheap and had such attractive flavors, Mr. Thanh frankly replied: "My point of view is that if it is cheap, it is not delicious, and especially if it is made in China, I will not choose it."

According to many people, Vietnam is falling into a maze of Chinese goods, unable to distinguish between real and fake. "Once you lose your reputation, you lose everything. I'm also doing it for the common health, having eaten poor quality food once, I will not buy it again," Ms. Hang affirmed.

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Trung (50 years old, Tran Phu, Ha Dong) emphasized: "Just talking about Chinese goods makes me afraid. Everything has to be delicious, quality, safe, cheap price is not the important factor".

For young people, Chinese products are also being questioned about their quality. Mr. Tuan (20 years old, Ha Dong) said: "If there are Chinese instant noodles, I will try them, but I will stop immediately if there is a warning. Now people have lost trust in food, there are Chinese products everywhere and it is impossible to distinguish between real and fake. Even the Vietnamese noodles I am choosing, I am not sure if they are Chinese products disguised as Vietnamese products or not."

With over 20 years of experience selling food, Ms. Thu Nga (40 years old), owner of a large agency in Chuc Son town, Chuong My, Hanoi, said that her store mainly sells Vietnamese noodle products.

"They don't choose cheap noodles like before, the most expensive noodles are chosen because they are advertised as not hot and not harmful to health. The sour and spicy type is suitable for school-age children because children now like style, like to slurp and sniff a little," Ms. Nga noted.

According to PNO