Guaranteed seafood, wine and meat… no worries

(Baonghean) - After more than 1 week of testingThe interdisciplinary inspection team found that besides many establishments that did not violate food safety regulations, there were still concerns about alcoholic beverages and frozen meat.

Quality assured seafood

Cua Lo town is one of the points of attention in the inspection program for compliance with food safety regulations, especially during the start of the beach tourism season.

During the 3 days of April 18-20, the Delegation inspected the following food production, processing and trading establishments: Son Huyen - Cua Hoi Cold Storage, Saigon Kim Lien Hotel, Xanh Hotel, Hon Ngu Hotel and Muong Thanh Hotel.

These are large hotels and restaurants directly managed by Cua Lo town. In general, hotels, restaurants and cold storage have complied quite well with food safety regulations. There is one unit that has not done a good job of storing food samples and has been reminded by the Delegation to improve.

The interdisciplinary inspection team inspected the seafood market in Cua Lo town. Photo: Tu Thanh

Also in Cua Lo town, the interdisciplinary inspection team inspected the Seafood Market. This is a market located in the center of the town, with many households specializing in grilling shrimp, fish, squid... attracting a large number of tourists to visit and shop.

Through visual inspection as well as chemical reaction tests using rapid food safety samples from the Institute of Biochemical Engineering and Professional Documents, Ministry of Public Security, the delegation found that: Fresh seafood sold and processed at the specialty market is of guaranteed quality; dried seafood is negative for toxic preservatives. Currently, the town's specialty market is undergoing re-planning.

During the working session with the People's Committee of Cua Lo town, the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team recommended and advised the town to build booths in a more scientific and modern direction.

On April 26-27, the inspection team continued to inspect establishments purchasing and processing fresh and frozen seafood in Dien Chau, Quynh Luu districts and Hoang Mai town. During the inspection, the team warned and fined two establishments purchasing dried seafood and exporting seafood in Dien Ngoc commune (Dien Chau). These were Tam Mau establishment (lack of health certificate and knowledge certificate) and Hoa Oanh establishment (lack of health certificate - aggravating circumstances as in 2016 the team inspected and warned but did not correct the violations).

Doctor Nguyen Xuan Hong - Deputy Director of the Department of Health, Head of the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team, assessed: Most seafood production, processing and trading establishments serving tourists basically meet food safety regulations quite well. The seafood samples tested all tested negative for toxic substances.

Not sure about beer, wine and frozen meat

Quickly testing dozens of wine samples at 5 restaurants and hotels in Cua Lo town, the Inspection Team discovered that 1 apple wine sample at Thuy Hang restaurant (address kiosk 38-39 Binh Minh street) owned by Ms. Ho Thi Hang tested positive for Methanol.

Also at Thuy Hang restaurant, the group discovered a quantity of Hanoi beer that was past its expiration date. Ms. Hang explained: “The 10 liters of apple wine were used to soak for drinking, and the 16 cans of expired beer were used to steam seafood.”

The delegation drew up a record forcing the facility to self-destruct and trace the origin of the alcohol production site.

Some frozen chicken products at Muong Thanh Supermarket - Dien Chau were discovered to not meet regulations and have unclear origins. Photo: Thanh Son

At another inspection point in Dien Chau district, when the delegation inspected a wine stall located on the 2nd floor of Muong Thanh Supermarket, the owner of the stall was not present. A representative of the supermarket said: The owner of the business premises is rarely present at the stall. Also at this supermarket, the interdisciplinary inspection delegation discovered that the quantity of imported confectionery products lacked additional labels and some frozen products were not guaranteed to be vacuum-free.

However, the most worrying thing is that the frozen chicken meat and chicken feet products do not have full food safety certification documents from the supplier. It is known that the whole chicken meat products (no head, no feet, no organs) are imported, traded and circulated through a number of companies in Hanoi - Thanh Hoa. When arriving at the supermarket, the packaging does not clearly state the origin, packaging time, or shelf life.

Also regarding chicken products, when checking at Metro Vinh Supermarket, the Interdisciplinary Inspection Team discovered a quantity of frozen chickens using old packaging that did not comply with regulations. The Team requested Metro Vinh Supermarket to make a record and return it to the supplier. As for Muong Thanh Supermarket - Dien Chau District, the Team requested the supermarket to complete the documents for 2 chicken products, to be presented on the afternoon of April 28.

During the “Month of action for food safety” in 2017 (April 15 - May 15, 2017), the provincial interdisciplinary inspection team will continue to divide into 2 working groups to conduct inspections at establishments producing and trading alcohol, food, vegetables, meat and processed vegetable and meat products, and food service establishments.

Doctor Nguyen Xuan Hong - Head of the interdisciplinary team said: The team will resolutely handle violations strictly according to the provisions of the law. However, to rectify the production, trading and consumption of safe fresh food, control alcohol and prevent alcohol poisoning, all levels of sectors, districts, cities and towns need to strictly implement the instructions of the Provincial People's Committee; direct wards, communes and towns to resolutely inspect the compliance with food safety regulations at establishments.

Thanh Son - Tu Thanh