Ho Chi Minh City: It is suspected that ordinary rice

Enterprise printed on the packaging as "premium Japanese rice" and sold for 27,500 VND / kg. Although confirming standard Japanese rice, but this business does not provide authentication documents that are "genuine" products as words.

On social networks, many consumers are sharing the purchase of Japanese rice at Co.opmart supermarket with signs of "fake" rice.

Ms NT (living in Tan An City, Long An Province) said that when she went to buy rice inside Co.opmart Tan An supermarket, she discovered that the area where Japanese rice was sold was "strange". I suspect not Japanese rice.

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Sakura Japanese sacks of rice are being sold at Co.opmart supermarkets. Photo: Dai Viet

“My family used to eat Japanese rice and saw how many Sakura brands sold in the supermarket were unlike the Japanese ones I ate. Japanese rice is round grain, not long grain like in Sakura rice sack ”- Ms. T. said.

Many consumers also expressed frustration when seeing pictures of Ms. T.'s rice bags posted online. People said that this is not Japanese rice.

Reporter Dan Tri went to Co.opmart Tan An supermarket to verify the incident. At Co.opmart Tan An's rice area, Sakura rice is sold for 55,000 VND / 2kg, or 27,500 VND / kg.

On the side of rice bags. Photo: Dai Viet

On the front of the rice bag is the inscription "Japanese flavored Sakura", next to the words "Premium Japanese rice" and the grain of rice can be seen from the packaging. Behind the rice bag, it is written "manufactured and packaged at Kim Sang Agricultural Product Joint Stock Company (29 TA17A Street, Thoi An Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City).

In addition to Co.opmart Tan An supermarket, many other Co.opmart supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City are also selling Sakura rice such as Co.opmart Phu Lam (district 6), Co.opmart Ly Thuong Kiet (district 10) ... sold at many stores in District 3, District 8, Binh Thanh, Tan Phu and Tan Binh

As buyers of Sakura rice, we contacted Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Trang, CEO of Kim Sang Company.

Ms. Trang said, Sakura rice is Japanese rice grown in the Mekong Delta. This is a "non-pure" Japanese rice.

“Rice is on sale for only 15,000 VND / kg, a 4kg bag costs 60,000 VND. In Ho Chi Minh City, customers who buy 10 bags will be delivered to their doorstep. Rice is being sold at Co.opmart supermarkets, ”said Trang.

The grains of rice can be clearly seen from the outside of the package. Photo: Dai Viet

Talking with PV Dan , Ms. Than Thi Lan Ny - Chairman of the Board of Directors cum General Director of Kim Sang Company shared, her company currently has 2 rice codes, one is Japonica round rice and the second is Japonica. is Japanese long grain Sakura rice.

“We have two rice codes, not one. Japonica round grain rice is everywhere and Kim Sang also has round grain rice. We cannot sell stubborn rice, ”Ms. Lan Ny said.

Also according to Ms. Lan Ny, all of her company's products have tests, medical announcements, food safety and hygiene certifications ... Kim Sang Company is ready to prove its products.

However, when Dan Dan asked Ms. Ny to provide documents showing the quality inspection of Sakura's Japanese rice product, Ms. Ny refused.

Interviewer has bought a sack of Sakura rice at Co.opmart supermarket to meet Mr. Nguyen Chin - an agricultural expert in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Chin, Japanese rice is completely distinguishable by the naked eye because Japanese rice is round grain, unlike long-grain Japanese rice.

Japonica round Japanese rice.

The fact that enterprises print on packaging is "Japanese rice" is also not accurate. Enterprises are only printed as "Japanese rice", because "Japanese rice" is understood as rice originating from Japan.

“Through observation, I see how Sakura rice has two main types of rice: 504 rice and scraps of fragrant rice. Scraps of fragrant rice include: rice 5451, pineapple aromatic rice, glutinous rice 46 Long An, ST24 rice scraps, squirrel rice ... These are cheap rice in the market "- Mr. Chin said.

Also according to Mr. Chin, 504 rice is retailing at the market with only 10,000 VND / kg, aromatic rice costs about 8,500 - 9,000 VND / kg.

Currently, in the market, mixing 5-10% of other types of rice with enterprises is a commercial fraud. Meanwhile, Sakura rice sacks are mostly scrap rice and show signs of "fake rice".

Sakura Japanese rice is sold at Co.opmart supermarkets and many rice shops in District 3, District 8, Binh Thanh, Tan Binh and Tan Phu (HCMC).

Mr. Do Quoc Huy - Marketing Director of Saigon Co.op - said that Co.opmart supermarket will check customer feedback and work with related departments.

Marketing representative of Saigon Co.op confirmed that this department has transferred information on Sakura rice product to Sales Department and Quality Control Department of the supermarket for clarification.

On the afternoon of April 18, the representative of Customer Care Department of Saigon Co.op also said that Co.opmart supermarket is cooperating with the product supplier, Kim Sang Company to clarify and handle the case.

Discussing the above issue, lawyer Thai Thi Diem Truc said, for the sale of rice, it is written as "Premium Japanese rice" but inside is the rice grains that are not of the right quality Japanese rice, not up to the standard of rice varieties. If Japan imports or cultivates in Vietnam, the company that produces the product may be responsible for buying and selling goods bearing the label or packaging of the name of another brand, writing fake instructions about the source. , where production…

This behavior is governed by Decree 185/2013 / ND-CP of the Government. According to this provision, depending on the nature and seriousness of the act, an administrative penalty or criminal prosecution may be imposed for "producing and trading in fake goods" under Article 192 of the Penal Code. 2015 year.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/tphcm-nghi-ngo-gao-thuong-doi-lot-gao-nhat-cao-cap-trong-sieu-thi-20200418203057338.htm