VietNamNet Bridge – Recent revelations have raised concerns about food safety nationwide. Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper spoke with Nguyen Hung Long, deputy director of the Food Safety and Hygiene Department, about the issues.

How will the issue involving calcium-carbonate sweets be treated?

The Sanlu powdered milk from China that has caused serious disease for children in that country. (Photo: Reuters)

We will meet with agencies and food experts to decide if calcium carbonate can be used for making sweets – and if there is any need to warn the public.

The Ministry of Public Health has checked all villages involved in producing the suspect sweets. We focused on the use of calcium carbonate, but also did tests to check for substances such as lead and arsenic.

At the moment, many ugly, hand-made candies are sold cheaply in rural areas. Are they safe?

We can’t say bad-looking and cheap candies are low quality. Tests must be made.

How about the Sanlu powdered milk from China that has caused serious disease for children in that country. Is this type of milk sold in Viet Nam?

So far, the Food Safety and Hygiene Department hasn’t issued a quality licence for Sanlu powdered milk. We also haven’t received any information from relevant agencies about this milk being sold legally on the market. As for products that have licences, none of them contain the toxic substance melamine, blamed for the Chinese tragedy.

Last week, health inspectors worked with local inspectors to check all powdered milk on the market to find Sanlu milk and other products without certificate of origin. Our department sent letters to all localities urging them to check for any illegal milk – and confiscate it. We have also asked border provinces to enhance checks on imported food product.

Is powdered milk sold in Viet Nam safe?

All powdered milk with a licence to be sold is regularly checked. So far, all of it has been found safe.

Some kinds of powdered milk are sold by the kilo without brands or certificates of origin. How can customers know about their quality?

We still need regular checks. At the moment, market-watch forces and health inspectors are limited. They cannot cover the thousands of different types of food. However, once products are found unsafe, those responsible will be punished strictly.

(Source: Viet Nam News)