VietNamNet Bridge –  Relevant agencies have discovered some samples of fresh plum fruits, pomegranates and grapes imported from China containing pesticide residues that exceed the permitted threshold. The north is full of Chinese plum and pomegranates, causing consumer confusion.

On September 17, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced the contaminated food. According to the chief of the Department for Plant Protection, Nguyen Xuan Hong, 50 samples of bean sprouts collected from markets revealed worrying results with microbial indicators. Up to 40 percent of the samples contained E. coli and salmonella in excess of the permitted limit.

Mr. Hong said E. coli and salmonella are the agents causing intestinal disease. The use of fresh bean sprouts will affect the health and only when bean sprouts are cooked the above microorganisms are eliminated completely.

According to statistics of the Department of Plant Protection, 60 incidents of food safety related to bean sprouts and sprout vegetables were recorded in the last eight months. In addition, the authorities found four samples of fruit imports from China containing pesticide residues that exceed the permitted in a sample of fresh plum, a sample of pomegranate, and two samples of grapes. All fruits were on clearance through the border gates in Lang Son and Lao Cai provinces.

Related to inspections of hygiene and food safety with vegetables and fruit in particular and foods in general, Minister Cao Duc Phat showed his dissatisfaction over the slow movement of food quality inspection. He asked this force to disguise to examine food production process.

Regards to inspection of the veterinary systems in the South and North, Phat told the inspection force to carry out checks without prior notice to the local authorities.

To tighten control of microbial residues in food, the Plant Protection Department and the Department of Horticulture recommended the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to promulgate safety procedures in the production of sprout vegetables and bean sprouts, which focuses on the use of chemicals and pesticides. The Ministry will set up a hotline for food hygiene and safety in order to promptly receive and process risks to people's health.

For fresh fruit imported from China, Minister Phat required quarantine agencies to increase the frequency of chemical residue control and to ask related agencies and the Chinese shippers to seriously cooperate in this issue.

Compiled by Mai Nga