Closely Monitoring Moon Cake Production and Marketing

The traditional Mid-Autumn Festival 2023 is approaching, and the demand for moon cakes and other foods for this event is on the rise. Market watchdogs have intensified their supervision of poor-quality goods and smuggled items under the guidance of the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance (DMS), which operates under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. They are conducting rigorous market inspections and controls during the Mid-Autumn Festival and quality inspections until the end of 2023.

Authorities are increasing their inspection and regulation of moon cake production and distribution

Increased inspection and control of moon cakes

Market management forces are strengthening their inspection and control measures in the food market ahead of the 2023 Mid-Autumn Festival. Within a short period, they have uncovered numerous production and business violations, including moon cakes with no specified origin, expiration dates, or ingredient information. Despite authorities’ warnings about food safety concerns, these types of cakes continue to be widely available on the market.

On September 12, 2023, Market Management Team No. 4, operating under the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Department, conducted an investigation into two business locations that were selling egg cakes and moon cakes without invoices, product documents, or proper labels. The labels on these products were displayed in foreign languages without Vietnamese translations. No documents related to product quality were found. Specifically, at the business location on Dang Van Ngu Street in Phu Nhuan District, they discovered 222 melted egg cakes (six pieces per box) produced on August 26, 2023. These cakes have an expiration date of 60 days from the production date, which is November 19, 2023. Additionally, they found 16 moon cakes (eight pieces per box) without origin information but with a production date of August 22, 2023. These moon cakes also have an expiration date within 60 days from the production date.

The business location on Dien Bien Phu Street, Ward 4, District 3 was found to contain 234 pieces of melted egg cakes (six pieces per box) of unknown origin, as well as 472 pieces of moon cakes and melted egg cakes. The Market Management Team No. 4 decided to temporarily seize these goods due to signs of violation.

Previously, on September 8, 2023, the team inspected a food business on Hoa Su Street, Ward 7, Phu Nhuan District in Ho Chi Minh City. During the inspection, they temporarily seized over 400 egg mooncakes (six pieces per box) that lacked origin information, invoices, and product documents.

In line with Plan 218/KH-UBND issued by the Hanoi People’s Committee regarding food safety during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the city’s market watchdog has discovered several facilities engaged in the sale of smuggled moon cakes since August 28.

On August 29, a cross-sector inspection team comprising Market Management Team No. 24 and the Economic and Drug Crime Investigation Police Team from Hoai Duc District conducted a surprise probe into the Gia Hung agricultural processing facility. During this operation, they temporarily confiscated nearly 2,000 mooncakes that showed signs of smuggling.

Subsequently, on August 31, Market Management Team No. 5 under the Hanoi Market Management Department collaborated with Hai Ba Trung District Police to uncover 960 melted egg mooncakes (branded MX Lava Custard Mooncake) suspected of being illegally imported from a foreign country. No invoices, product documents, origin information, or quality papers were found.

Additionally, Market Management Team No. 22 (Hanoi) and the Economic Police Team from Bac Tu Liem District Police discovered and captured over 4,600 smuggled moon cakes in Chua Tong village (La Phu commune), Hoai Duc district, Hanoi. All these products are made in foreign countries and lack invoices or origin documents.

Official recommendations

Market inspections have revealed numerous violations, including trading smuggled products, origin-unclear products, knockoffs, and unlabeled products in preparation for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Department has directed its affiliated units to take strong action against these violations to protect consumers.

According to food experts, moon cakes without labels, unknown origin, or expiration dates pose potential risks to human health. In particular, super-cheap moon cakes are often made with low-quality ingredients and poor food hygiene and safety practices, which can lead to food poisoning.

As moon cakes of unknown origin continue to be widely sold in the market, an official from the Hanoi Market Management Department emphasized the importance of peak inspections in the commodity market during the Mid-Autumn Festival period (August 29 to September 30). Additionally, consumers are advised to purchase moon cakes from reputable stores and producers such as Kinh Do and Hai Ha. It is crucial that products have complete labels, clear origin information, and valid shelf-life dates. Consumers should avoid purchasing any product that lacks clear origin, manufacturer, or product information.

After the Vietnam Directorate of Market Surveillance requested increased market supervision, market watchdogs in other provinces and cities, such as Nghe An, Lao Cai, Bac Ninh, and Binh Duong, have diligently implemented its guidance.

Mr. Tran Huu Linh, General Director of the DMS, stated that the DMS has directed local market authorities to continue inspecting organizations, individuals, supermarkets, and commercial centers involved in the production, trade, import, and export of confectioneries and moon cakes. Simultaneously, they were instructed to closely monitor individuals, organizations, and businesses engaged in the production and trade of ingredients, food additives, and packaging materials for moon cakes.

In particular, market watchdogs have focused on examining moon cakes, ingredients, and packaging materials used in traditional production villages across the country. This initiative aims to protect human health and ensure a robust business environment.

By Hien Quyen, Vietnam Business Forum