Identifying Chinese potatoes disguised as Da Lat
Chinese potatoes are "coated" with a layer of red soil to imitate Dalat potatoes. The tubers are all the same size and have large eyes. Dalat potatoes have thin skins so they are easily scratched during harvesting or transportation.
During the rainy season in the South, when Da Lat is out of season for potatoes, the market is scarce and prices are high. Sellers often "magically" turn Chinese potatoes into Da Lat goods by using red soil to cover the outside of the tubers, to profit from the price difference.
However, according to vegetable traders in Da Lat, it is not too difficult to distinguish these two types of potatoes. The most recognizable feature is that the skin of Da Lat potatoes is thinner, so they are often scratched a lot right after harvesting and during packaging and transportation. Chinese potatoes have very uniform tuber sizes, almost 10 tubers are the same, the tubers are usually longer than Da Lat potatoes, the potato skin is smooth and shiny, and there are few scratches.
Another distinguishing feature is that the Chinese potato variety has larger eyes on the tuber than the Dalat potato. The flesh of the Chinese potato is also whiter than the domestic potato.
Vi, a supplier of Da Lat vegetables to a supermarket chain, said that when supermarket employees import goods, they can easily tell which are Da Lat potatoes and which are Chinese goods with the naked eye, without having to check for pesticide residues or preservatives.
Chinese potatoes on the market are also "coated" with a layer of red soil like Da Lat potatoes. According to a potato trader named Thao, to "dye" Chinese potatoes into Da Lat potatoes requires a lot of meticulousness and time. First, wash the potatoes. While they are still wet, roll them in a layer of Da Lat's pinkish red soil (also known as pink soil) that has been crushed, then dry them in the sun until the soil is dry, then gently rub the surface of the potatoes with your hands. At that time, the color of the potatoes is very beautiful, it is very difficult for consumers to detect, even Da Lat people cannot distinguish.
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Chinese potatoes are "coated" with a layer of Da Lat red soil to disguise them as domestic products. Photo: Quoc Dung. |
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Dalat potatoes are often scratched because of their thin skin. Photo: Quoc Dung. |
Master Nguyen Van Son, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lam Dong, said that the situation of Chinese potatoes flooding the Vietnamese market has been going on for quite a while. The Department of Agriculture of Lam Dong, in coordination with the Department of Standards and Quality Measurement of the province, has taken samples of Chinese potatoes for analysis several times and has not detected any alarming toxic chemicals.
"This result also depends on the testing equipment. Personally, I think Chinese potatoes must have used post-harvest preservatives. That has never happened to Da Lat potatoes before," Mr. Son emphasized.
According to Mr. Son, whether it is Chinese potatoes or Da Lat potatoes, consumers should not buy potatoes with green skin or those that have sprouted, because the potatoes at this time will contain toxins that affect human health. Potatoes are also a plant that is sensitive to the weather, and the cultivation process requires the use of many fungicides. Compared to green vegetables, potatoes leave less pesticide residue, due to the characteristics of being a tuber vegetable deep underground.
According to: VnExpress (HV)
