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Vinafood sells out-of-date pork
Inspectors have discovered that pig legs quarantined for investigation due to missing expiration dates have disappeared from a Vinafood Company warehouse.
The Binh Tan District Animal Health Bureau said that 14 out of 55.7 tonnes of meat were sealed on July 15 for investigation because they did not have a posted expiration date.
The company was asked to produce original documents but failed to do so before the deadline.
When investigators returned to the warehouse five days later, the products were missing.
Vinafood’s General Director Cap Van Thai was reported to explain in an interview with Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper that on the day before the inspection, 14 tonnes of goods had been sold. As a result, the investigation team based its findings on records from the previous day.
He also said foreign exporters confirmed that frozen goods would remain safe if stored below 18 degree Celsius. Quality would be a little reduced, but consumer health would be ensured.
"Food always has an expiration date and extending it is unacceptable," said Pham Van Dong, chief of the Animal Health Department’s Quarantine Division.
Customers have raised their concerns about the problem.
"I am worried and upset about this matter. Almost all children like sausage very much, but now I have to pay attention to canned products and sausage when buying them for my son," said Nguyen Thi Nhai, a lecturer at the Ha Noi University.
Thinking along the same lines, Duong Thi Ha from Tu Liem district said she might stop buying sausage and canned meats.
The company is reported to import 1,000 tonnes of chicken and pork monthly.
Last month, it registered a container of frozen chicken legs with the quarantine agency. However, it was later discovered that the real amount received was three containers.
At its Hoang Phi Quan store in Thu Duc district, inspectors also found imported pig’s legs from the US without production or expiration dates.
Vinafood is one of the biggest importers of frozen meat in Viet Nam, both in quantity and varieties, including chicken, beef, pork, sausage and fish.
According to the Animal Health Centre Region VI, the Mekong Delta region has 37 companies involved in poultry imports and another seven companies import pork through the city’s port.
vietnamnet, vietnamnews
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