TUOI TRE/Tien Dung

Many people used to think that because Vietnam is still a poor country, having access to milk was a benefit.

Not much thought was given to the quality of milk, even though some felt pity for the poor who could only afford cheap milk, while the rich bought high quality or imported milk for their children.

Poor children are often given milk sold in plastic bags - with no brand name visible – of indeterminate quality. This kind of milk costs around VND20,000 to VND30,000 a kilogram (US$1-$2).

The milk is made from cheap foreign milk materials, from which protein, important for brain development and physical growth, has been extracted. But the producers still boast about the quality of their products. And they have never been caught out – until now.

The government put its trust in producers by giving them the right to advertise the quality of their products. The producers are accountable for the statements made to consumers about ingredients and quality.

Some businesses have betrayed the trust.

The government knows some producers have no conscience and misrepresent the quality of their products. That is why Vietnam Food Administration and local public health departments are responsible for testing food quality and hygiene.

Tests by Vietnam Standard and Consumers Association found many different types of milk products had low levels of protein, much lower than stated on their labels, and reported the substandard products to the departments responsible for monitoring food quality and hygiene.

But why didn’t these departments discover the scandal themselves and issue warnings to consumers?

After the association’s report, the HCMC Health Department investigated and punished the businesses responsible for the substandard milk. But no information about the offenders was publicized.

No one knows and no one counts how many children are suffering from malnutrition and slowed growth from drinking low-protein milk.

Consumers have the right to demand why the departments that have been given the power, means and staff to test food quality and hygiene did not fulfill their responsibilities. The departments know well enough that low-protein milk can cause health problems, especially for children, but they did not publicize the problem in a timely manner.

Vietnamese consumers have already been rocked by a series of food quality scandals. Now they are worried their milk contains much lower protein than stated on the labels.

People do not feel assured that their rights are foremost in the minds of those whose job it is to ensure the quality and hygiene of food sold in Vietnam.

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COMMENTS

Hùng,  Singapore -  09:36 a.m. (GMT+7), Thursday, February 26, 2009

The magic word is "mechanism". Without an appropriate mechanism to ensure that officials who fail to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations are punished, the overall managerial capabilities in various State agencies are likely to remain dismal. I cannot help but wonder whether those responsible for letting the problem of sub-standard milk go unnoticed or, worse still, persist have received any punishment whatsoever. People respond to incentives. In the absence of suitable incentives, calls for greater transparency and efficiency are likely to fall on deaf ears. In the end, it is poor children that will have to bear the brunt if we fail to act swiftly enough.

Have not Done!!!!

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