Extremely unsanitary tofu is still being sold at Vinh Train Station Market.

(Baonghean.vn) - After being ordered to suspend production and business activities by the provincial inter-agency team, the facility producing contaminated tofu near Vinh Train Station Market continues to operate brazenly.

"Horrific tofu production facility discovered near Vinh train station."

A joint inter-agency team from the province inspected a dirty tofu production facility near Vinh Train Station Market on the morning of March 10th. Photo: Tu Thanh.

As reported by Nghe An Newspaper: On the morning of March 10, 2017, a joint inter-agency inspection team on food safety in Nghe An province discovered a horrifyingly unsanitary tofu production facility near Vinh Train Station Market. This was the Vu Cao Cuong tofu production facility, located in Block 14, Le Loi Ward. The facility failed to ensure food safety during production. The inter-agency team issued a report suspending production and business operations for one month from the date of inspection to allow the facility to rectify the issues.

Ms. Thai Thi Van, from Ha Huy Tap ward, Vinh City, said: “Previously, I used to diet and ate two blocks of tofu every day. I occasionally bought tofu from this establishment at Vinh Train Station Market. Once, I vomited after eating it, and I'm still terrified. Reading the Nghe An Newspaper about this production facility and seeing how dirty and unsanitary the processing equipment is, I'm so scared. From now on, I won't dare eat there again. I urge the authorities to heavily fine this establishment and other unsanitary food establishments.”

Information about the discovery of a contaminated tofu production facility has garnered significant public attention. On social media platforms like Facebook and Zalo alone, the post and information have been shared thousands of times. The vast majority of people have expressed outrage at the facility for its harmful practices that endanger consumer health and have called for a boycott of its tofu and soy milk products.

Other opinions suggest that harsher penalties are needed to serve as a deterrent; and propose that authorities strengthen the management of tofu production in particular and food in general.

Information from local residents indicates that, despite being issued an administrative violation notice by the inter-agency team, including a suspension of production and business activities, the facility continues to operate as usual. Upon verifying this information, on the morning of March 13th, a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper confirmed that the facility's production and business activities are still ongoing.

In discussions with the inter-agency inspection team on food safety in Nghe An province, it was learned that: On the morning of March 13th, the team issued a decision assigning the Nghe An Sub-Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Quality Management to supervise and inspect the Vu Cao Cuong tofu production facility, requiring it to suspend production and business operations to rectify the issues.

Following this decision, the Nghe An Provincial Department of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Quality Management will conduct inspections and monitoring; and allow the facility to resume operations when food safety is ensured during the production process.

Despite being suspended, the Vu Cao Cuong tofu production facility continues to produce, trade, and sell its products (Photo taken on the morning of March 13, 2017). Photo: Thanh Chung

Regarding the above incident, Mr. Le Hong Minh, a consultant specializing in healthcare information systems at the Ministry of Health, stated: “Thank you to the authorities for intervening, which has helped reassure the public about food safety. However, the reality shows that many establishments producing, trading, and processing unsafe food still exist in Nghe An province in particular, and the whole country in general. We request that management agencies at all levels take strict measures and closely manage the processing and trading of tofu in particular and food in general before it reaches consumers. Inspection and penalties must go hand in hand with guidance and post-inspection – otherwise, it will be like letting a frog escape a plate.”

This week, the inter-agency inspection team on food safety in Nghe An province will contact and hold a meeting with the Vinh City People's Committee regarding the management and inspection of food safety in the area.

Thanh Son