The Health Ministry on Thursday (December 23) ordered that all packets of hot pot seasoning without clear origin and those without Vietnamese language labels are revoked and destroyed.

 

Following cancer warnings issued in Chinese media over a Sichuan hot pot seasoning early this week, officials from the ministry’s Food Safety and Hygiene Department started to check hot pot seasonings sold in Hanoi.

 

Many of them were found wearing the Chinese language labels and the vendors failed to present evidence of their origin.

 

“We cannot wait until examinations conclude whether the hot pot seasonings sold in the market are toxic or not. Inspectors can revoke and destroy the products right away if their origins are dubious,” said Nguyen Cong Khan, head of the department.

 

The department has enhanced inspections of all cooking products as the holiday season looms large with Tet, the Lunar New Year festival, falling early February.