People shopping for mooncake products in HCM City. Photo tuoitre.vn

HCM CITY – As the Mid-Autumn Festival draws near, the HCM City Market Management Department is intensifying efforts to combat the sale of mooncakes with unclear origins, and other smuggled, counterfeit and substandard goods.

The surge in demand for mooncakes during this festive season has fueled smuggling and counterfeiting cases, with recent inspections in the city uncovering numerous violations.

Accordingly, in August, the department handled many violations and temporarily confiscated 15,749 moon cake products worth VNĐ150 million (US$6,000) and imposed a fine of VNĐ219 million ($8,760) for violations of food safety of moon cake products.

To ensure food safety, prevent the sale of smuggled goods of unknown origin and protect people's health during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the City Market Management Department has had to increase inspections of mooncake production facilities.

The inspections focus on the origin of the raw materials for cake production, the use of food additives, food processing aids, product quality and conditions to ensure food safety in food production, processing and preservation.

At the same time, the Market Management force also strengthens coordination with the Department of Food Safety to focus on inspecting business establishments and stores in compliance with legal regulations in the production and trading of mooncakes.

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, this force will also inspect the recall and handling of expired products that do not meet quality standards.

The Market Management Department also recommends that consumers should choose mooncake products with reputable brands and clear origins.

People should not buy mooncakes of unknown origin and without labels just because they are cheap.

When consumers discover poor quality products of unknown origin, they need to notify the authorities for timely management in accordance with the law. – VNS