Police in 78 countries have arrested 672 people as part of a coordinated global crackdown on potentially dangerous counterfeit food and drink, international police agency Interpol announced Friday (Jun 21). Meat kept in substandard conditions was discovered in Albania. (Photo: Interpol) Packets of cheese and chicken on which the sell-by dates had been tampered with, meat that had been stored in unsanitary conditions and drinks containing dangerous substances were among the goods seized in raids on shops, markets and during transport checks. In Zimbabwe, the authorities seized nearly 14,000 litres of soft drinks containing high levels of the active ingredient in drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction, which could be life-threatening for unsuspecting consumers, it said. Improperly stored palm sugar was also seized during the operation. (Photo: Interpol) Bootleg liquor accounted for a large part of the haul. In Russia, an underground vodka factory was shut down … [Read more...] about 672 arrested in global swoop on fake food and drink: Interpol
Fake food labels
Thousand shades of grey in healthy food
While the market is awash with different types of supplementary food, there are still genuine brands with traceable origin, Photo: Le Toan In recent years, supplementary food are becoming more and more popular, especially among office workers. Thao Van, a 32-year old office worker in Hanoi, is trying to lose weight after stopping breastfeeding her baby. She spends an hour to exercise every day and is looking for a type of supplementary food to burn fat. However, after a few days of browsing, she feels hopelessly lost in the world of supplementary food of varying origins, prices, and quality. “It is very difficult to choose. Along with products with clear origin from the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, and South Korea that are quite expensive, there are a lot of cheap products from China. I cannot tell which products are safe,” Van told VIR. According to statistics published by the Vietnam Association of Functional Food (VAFF), only 63 kinds of supplementary food were sold … [Read more...] about Thousand shades of grey in healthy food
Reinforcing law on supplementary food
Are legal provisions enough to manage the origins and quality of supplementary food? What is the main reason that so many poor-quality products find their way to the market? In my opinion, the current legal framework on the importation, production, and trading of supplementary food is almost enough. The framework in place has terms for labelling, advertisements, certificates for production, ingredients, functions, directions, testing, and non-medicinal ingredients. However, as with other high-quality goods, there are so many poor-quality alternatives available. I think there are three main reasons for this trouble. First, it is the business ethics of producers and traders. Second, it is the lack of knowledge on the side of customers who do not fully understand the quality and origins of products, along with their expectations of the effectiveness of some products, which can result in them buying fake products with very poor quality. Third, there are shortcomings in checking, … [Read more...] about Reinforcing law on supplementary food
Food safety in doubt even with QR labels
A customer chooses food with quick response codes in a supermarket in District 1 in HCM City. The codes can be scanned by an app on a smartphone and give customers advice on whether they should pick up the products. — VNA/VNS Photo Hữu Khoa Viet Nam News HCM CITY — It is not difficult to find meat, vegetables and fruits sold at supermarkets with quick response (QR) codes which help customers trace the origins and quality of their products. The codes can be scanned by an app on a smartphone and give customers advice on whether they should pick up the products. The application of technology in product traceability has demonstrated local authorities’ commitment to winning the trust of customers after a series of food contamination scandals across the country. However, food experts have warned that food with QR codes might not be as reliably safe as it is supposed to be, while customers have raised doubt over the codes’ accuracy, dantri.com.vn … [Read more...] about Food safety in doubt even with QR labels
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 22/8
Mekong Capital divests from Asia ChemicalsMekong Enterprise Fund II, a unit of Mekong Capital, has completely divested from Asia Chemicals Corporation (ACC) and taken in US$8.9 million, a 2.6-fold increase over its initial investment, after a seven-year holding period.According to a press release issued by Mekong Capital on August 10, in 2011, MEF II invested US$3.8 million in ACC, which was its 10th investment, after others in Mobile World Investment Group (The Gioi Di Dong), Golden Gate, Vietnam Australia International School and International Consumer Products.However, MEF II has now divested from all of its 10 earlier investments. The divestments have helped the fund generate a gross return multiple of 4.5 and a gross internal rate of return of 22.5%.Early this year, MEF II sold five million shares at Mobile World, generating a gross return multiple of 56.9 and an IRR of 61.1%, making it one of the most successful investments in Asia.Also, the fund’s full exit from Vietnam … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 22/8