Nghe An: 'Chaos' of floating candy and cakes near Tet
(Baonghean.vn) - As Tet approaches, the demand for confectionery, jams, and nuts increases. In traditional markets, these items are sold everywhere with a variety of prices, but it is worth mentioning that most of these confectionery products have unknown origins, origins, and expiration dates.
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| Floating confectionery is sold everywhere in the market. Photo: TP |
West TempleVinh marketwhere wholesale sources of cakes, candies, jams, and nuts for the Tet market are concentrated. This year, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, the market is somewhat quieter and not as vibrant as previous years. However, the amount of imported goods is still diverse and abundant.
Entering the booths, customers are easily dazzled by dozens of colorful candies and jams contained in transparent plastic bags, baskets, plastic crates, and paper boxes. Gummies, jellies, cookies, chocolates, etc. come in many colors, eye-catching designs, and all kinds of words from Vietnam, Korea, China, etc. However, it is very difficult to find basic information about the products such as: Place of manufacture, ingredients, and expiration date.
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| When asked about the expiry date of confectionery products, the seller showed the customer a piece of paper like this and the production date was filled in with a ballpoint pen. Photo: TP |
According to observation, most of these candies and jams areno expiration dateOn the packaging, information about the origin is printed in tiny, blurred letters; many types have a 5-10kg package with only a piece of paper the size of a matchbox with a rough description of the origin, ingredients and production date written in ballpoint pen... As for the candies and cakes that are introduced by the merchants as "imported", there are no Vietnamese subtitles, nor are there any expiration dates on the products. Especially jams: coconut, pumpkin, potato, ginger, kiwi, strawberry and nuts such as sunflower seeds, pine nuts, almonds, pistachios... are all sold openly, without packaging, labels or expiration dates.
The prices of these products are quite cheap, only from 25,000 VND - 200,000 VND/kg.
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| Candy and cakes that look similar to famous brands are everywhere. Photo: TP |
When asked about labels and expiry dates, Ms. VTH, owner of a candy stall at Dinh Tay market in Vinh, said: “The cheap price and beautiful products are due to the low cost of product packaging. The products are imported in large plastic bags for the convenience of wholesale and retail customers. The labels and expiry dates are on the large packaging, but now they are torn apart to sell, so they are not there. If you try “delicious – nutritious – cheap”, then buy it, why care about the packaging and labels?”
Where there is supply, there is demand. Due to their low prices and diverse, eye-catching designs, these candies, jams, and nuts still attract a large number of buyers, especially people in the districts. Ms. TD, the owner of an agency on Ngo Duc Ke Street, said: “There are many types of candies. The real ones are expensive, the fake ones are cheap. Customers can find whatever they like. Our store sells very little retail, mainly wholesale to agents in rural areas. During the whole Tet season, the amount of candies and jams sold is up to a ton. Candies and jams sold by weight are mainly imported from Hanoi and China. Customers who come to buy only care about the price, but few ask about the expiration date or origin.”
In addition to the confectionery sold by weight, with unknown origin, source, and expiration date, many confectionery stores and agents in Vinh and other districts sell a wide range of counterfeit confectionery of famous brands. However, it is difficult to distinguish between genuine and “copycat” products because they look very similar on the outside, only the price is quite different.
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| Dried squid, dried beef, and shredded pork are contained in large plastic bags and all have "3 no's": no expiration date, no origin, no ingredients. Photo: TP |
Not only candies, at the dry stalls in the traditional markets, dried fish, dried squid, shrimp, etc. are also sold in a variety of ways near Tet. It is worth mentioning that all of these items do not have packaging, labels, or expiration dates. When buyers have questions, the shop owners answer that the goods are new, ensuring quality with reputation and honor. In addition, items such as ham, sausages, shredded pork, boneless pig's feet, bacon, Chinese sausage, etc. also have the same "three no" status (no origin, no packaging, no label, no expiration date).
The time before Tet is the time when counterfeit goods flood the market and become more complicated. Before waiting for the authorities to step in to inspect, control and handle, every consumer needs to be extremely careful when shopping for Tet.
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| During this peak period, the market management force has been deployed to inspect, control, confiscate and destroy many types of candies, jams, alcohol, cigarettes... of unknown origin. Photo: TP |
Nghe An Market Management Department launched a peak period of market inspection and control at the end of 2021; before, during and after the Lunar New Year 2022. Accordingly, the Department has directed teams and groups to strengthen inspection and strictly control the business activities and trade of counterfeit goods, poor quality goods, and goods of unknown origin at shopping centers, markets, wholesale and retail agents, grocery stores, etc. In particular,practiceFocus on product groups with high consumption during Tet such as wine, beer, cakes, candies, jams; fresh food, processed food; soft drinks; Strengthen post-inspection, take product samples to test standards according to regulations and if violations are detected, they must be strictly handled.to protect consumer rights.