Disadvantages of using Tet jam:

Are the Tet jams on the market today safe? Are there potential risks of food safety that make consumers worried?

Every year, as the Lunar New Year approaches, the issue of confectionery is hotly debated. This is a very diverse product, so it is difficult for authorities to control the types, origins, and quality. The health risks from products that do not ensure food safety and hygiene due to being imported from China or from unsanitary manual production facilities during processing, or the potential use of unauthorized additives in soaking, marinating, or creating eye-catching colors... have made consumers worried. Authorities and market experts have been coordinating to closely inspect Tet jam products. Many consumer advices such as "Vietnamese people prioritize using Vietnamese goods" have been issued.

But in reality, “three-no jam” (no label of origin, no production date, no expiration date) still sneaks into the market and is sold everywhere such as: Hang Buom, Dong Xuan market, Hang Duong, Ha Dong market…, as well as online business.

"Three-no jam" is still sold in many places.

There are still some handmade jam processing facilities that do not ensure food hygiene and safety, the origin of the jam sold retail on the online or offline market. With temporary production facilities that do not ensure food safety: The place to dry raw materials is dusty, the jam soaking buckets are dirty, and the additives that are not allowed to be used such as: bleaching chemicals, colorants, chemical sugar, borax... are all potentially harmful to health.

Some unsanitary production facilities can cause bacterial contamination, leading to gastrointestinal diseases such as bacterial diarrhea. Substandard storage can easily cause mold growth, which is more harmful to health than beneficial.

Where should consumers choose jam:

Nowadays, many families have made their own traditional jam for Tet, if they are not too busy. This should be encouraged because it preserves the flavor of Tet and women have more opportunities to be "skillful and good at housework". Or mothers should choose Vietnamese jam but processed by large companies, with brands, full labels, production dates and expiration dates.

From a nutritional perspective: It is best to reduce the amount of jam used and replace it with fresh fruits during Tet such as watermelon, oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, persimmons, strawberries, apples, etc., which are good for your health. You can replace jam with cereals or pumpkin seeds, peanuts, cashews, peas, but be careful with watermelon seeds because if they are dyed with bad dyes, they are also harmful to your health.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Lam,
Deputy Director of the Institute of Nutrition