'Hand-carried' goods of unknown origin at Maximark supermarket

(Baonghean.vn) - On September 19, the interdisciplinary inspection team of the Provincial People's Committee began to carry out an inspection and examination of food safety during the 2017 Mid-Autumn Festival according to Decision No. 539 of the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee dated September 11, 2017.

On the first day, the delegation inspected the production of cakes and moon cakes at a food processing and trading company.

Through inspection, the facility basically complied with the requirements on ensuring food safety. However, there are still some limitations such as the processing and baking area being close to the road and residential areas, causing noise and dust; the warehouse arrangement is not reasonable, and there are no measures to prevent flies, mosquitoes, and insects according to regulations.

The delegation inspected fermented products originating from abroad. Photo: MH

In addition, the facility currently uses cotton floss as raw material in the production of many types of cakes, but the origin of the raw materials used to make the cakes is unknown.

The owner of the facility also said: The floss was taken from a family that produces ham and sausage in the area and this facility only has a certificate of eligibility for ham and sausage production but does not have a certificate to produce floss according to regulations.

At Van Nien Construction and Trading Services Joint Stock Company (Maximark supermarket), the delegation simultaneously inspected many goods and products on display at the supermarket. Thereby, they discovered a number of frozen products (meat) that violated the storage conditions announced by the manufacturer (such as damaged vacuum bags, freezers that did not ensure the temperature).

In particular, the delegation discovered a number of items such as almonds, dates, and walnuts originating from Russia but without the required import documents. The company's leaders also admitted that these were hand-carried consignment goods, so they did not have the required documents. The delegation reminded the establishments of these violations and requested them to promptly correct them to ensure food safety and hygiene, ensuring the rights of consumers.

Some products at Maximark originating from Russia are "hand-carried" goods without documents. Photo: MH

Previously, on September 11, 2017, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 539 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on the Plan for inter-sectoral inspection and examination of food safety during the 2017 Mid-Autumn Festival.

This inspection aims to evaluate the food safety management of the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns during the Mid-Autumn Festival; evaluate the current status of food safety assurance of food production, trading and import establishments, and catering services, with special attention to establishments producing and trading moon cakes.

Checking the preservation of moon cakes at Maximark supermarket. Photo: MH

According to the plan, the inspection will be conducted suddenly with the participation of the Department of Industry and Trade, the Market Management Department, the Department of Health Inspectorate, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Environmental Police Department - Nghe An Provincial Police and the Food Safety and Hygiene Department.

The inspection content will focus on ensuring product quality, compliance with regulations on advertising, periodic product testing, labeling, traceability, production conditions, food processing and trading; inspecting and checking the use of additives, colorants, flavorings, processing aids and raw material origins in food production and processing.

It is expected that the inspection will last until the end of the 2017 Mid-Autumn Festival and the inspection results will be reported to the province before October 20, 2017 and made public in the media./.

My Ha