On the morning of June 3, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety said that, in response to information circulating on social networks about videos of cigarette butts (also known as two-step plowing) with unusual lengths, posing a potential risk to food safety, the unit urgently deployed surprise inspections at 27 restaurants and establishments selling pork intestines and meat accessories.
The inspection results recorded 2 cases of violations of food safety conditions. In particular, inspecting the Long Chat Quan business household (Hong Lac street, Tan Binh district), the facility reported that it is not currently trading in cigarette but only sells pork intestines (pork intestines).
The inspection team took pig intestine samples to test for food safety indicators such as lead (Pb), welding (boric acid, borate), formol. The results did not detect any toxic substances.
However, the facility has not ensured food safety conditions such as arranging a kitchen that does not ensure cross-contamination prevention between raw and cooked food; processing staff not wearing hats, not wearing masks, not using gloves when in contact with cooked food; and having pests in the processing area.
Besides, using raw materials of unknown origin. The establishment presented the retail invoice to buy pig heart from Mr. Dinh Duy Cuong, representing Kim Hong stall (street No. 3, My Hoa hamlet, Xuan Thoi Dong commune, Hoc Mon district). However, the seller does not register for a business and invoice inadequate content as prescribed, so it is not enough to access food origin. The facility also cannot produce invoices and documents for dried peppers.
The form of handling Long Chat Quan business household is to make a record and fine 6,780,750 VND.
For the business household of Tien Long Xe Dieu store (Nguyen Trai street, District 1), the kitchen arrangement does not ensure cross-contamination prevention between raw and cooked foods; culverts in the kitchen area are not drained, stagnant; pests appear in the processing area. The handling is to make a record and impose a fine of VND 8,000,000.
According to a report from the Management Board of Hoc Mon and Binh Dien Market and traders, cigarette butts are no longer popular on the market and have not been on the market for a long time.
In the coming time, the Department of Food Safety of Ho Chi Minh City will continue to strengthen inspections of meat processing and trading establishments and meat by-products and food services. If there is a facility selling cigarettes, the unit will take samples for testing, if violations are detected, they will be strictly handled according to regulations.
