Worry about dirty food has not subsided
In the context of dirty food still creeping into the market, people are increasingly interested in products with clear and transparent origins.
At many traditional markets in Ho Chi Minh City, buyers are more cautious when choosing food. However, inspection is mainly based on visual observation or buying from familiar small traders.
Ms. Mai Hong Linh (resident of Tan Hung ward) said that her family has been buying meat and vegetables at a familiar stall for many years. "Recently, I have continuously heard news of dirty food, I am very worried. But consumers find it difficult to distinguish between safe goods and poor quality goods, so they still have to buy from familiar sellers to feel somewhat reassured" - Ms. Linh shared.
Not only in traditional markets, but also around wholesale markets such as Binh Dien, Thu Duc, Hoc Mon, there are still many spontaneous business points. Vegetables, meat and fish are sold on sidewalks and roadsides, mostly without labels, without indicating the place of production or the supplier. This poses a risk of food insecurity and causes difficulties for quality control.
Ms. Le Thuy (resident of Binh Dong ward), a housewife who regularly goes to the wholesale market to buy food for her family restaurant, said that price is a factor that makes many people choose spontaneous selling points. Reality shows that, although food safety issues are mentioned frequently, most consumers still choose food based on acquaintances, personal experience or the seller's introduction. Many people said that the reason stems from the fact that this information has not been publicly disclosed conveniently and easily accessible.
Supply chain standardization
According to the plan just issued by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, in the period 2026-2030, the city will build and operate a traceability system for pork, poultry meat and poultry eggs on the information technology platform, ensuring connection with the National Traceability Information Portal.
Notably, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee requested the Department of Industry and Trade to implement many solutions to standardize the supply chain through the commodity exchange model. The city assigned the Department of Industry and Trade to preside over and coordinate with relevant units to urgently advise and complete the pilot implementation of the pork exchange in the area. The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee also requested research to add poultry meat and poultry eggs to the list of products traded through the exchange. This is considered a step towards gradually standardizing the supply chain, improving product quality and transparency of goods origin.
In addition, the Department of Industry and Trade is assigned to coordinate with the Department of Food Safety to research and propose solutions to connect and gradually bring pork, poultry and poultry egg products that meet traceability requirements, and at the same time meet the criteria of the "Responsible Green Stick" Goods Quality Control Cooperation Program, into the collective kitchen system at hospitals, schools, export processing zones and industrial parks in the city. Ho Chi Minh City requests to strengthen unscheduled inspections at warehouses, stockpiles of pork, poultry and poultry eggs. Commercial fraud, counterfeiting traceability stamps, using fake QR codes or trading products without traceability information as prescribed will be strictly handled. The Department of Industry and Trade will direct supermarkets, convenience stores and management boards of Binh Dien and Hoc Mon wholesale markets to promote the application of traceability technology.
