On June 3, the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Authority officially announced the results of its investigation into the unusual length of “lòng xe điếu” and its potential risks to food safety.
The authority inspected 27 establishments and discovered two cases of violations regarding food safety conditions.
Firstly, Lòng Chát Quán, a business household located at 268 Hong Lac, Ward 11, Tan Binh District, was fined nearly VND 6.8 million for failing to ensure food safety conditions.
Specifically, the shop’s kitchen was arranged in a way that did not prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked food. Employees were observed not wearing hats, masks, or gloves when handling cooked food, and there was the presence of pests in the food preparation area.
Additionally, the establishment was penalized for using ingredients of unknown origin and failing to provide valid documentation. Although they presented a retail invoice for the purchase of pig offal from Mr. Dinh Duy Cuong, representing stall Kim Hong (D27 Road No. 3, My Hoa Hamlet, Xuan Thoi Dong Commune, Hoc Mon District), the invoice was deemed insufficient for tracing the source of the food product due to Kim Hong’s lack of business registration and incomplete invoice details.
Lòng xe điếu sold in Ho Chi Minh City
Regarding the “lòng xe điếu,” the establishment reported that they were not selling this dish at the time of the inspection and only offered pig offal. Samples of the pig offal were tested for food safety indicators such as lead (Pb), boric acid (borate), and formalin, but no toxic substances were detected.
Secondly, Tiệm Lòng Xe Điếu, a business household located at 150/7/1 Nguyen Trai, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, was fined VND 8 million for failing to meet food hygiene and safety conditions.
Similar to the previous case, their kitchen setup did not adequately prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked food. Additionally, the drainage system in the kitchen area was inadequate, resulting in stagnant water, and there was also the presence of pests in the food preparation area.
Reports from the management companies of Hoc Mon and Binh Dien wholesale markets and traders confirmed that “lòng xe điếu” is no longer a common product in the market, and they have not traded this item for a long time.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Food Safety Authority, they will continue to strengthen inspections of establishments involved in the processing, trading, and catering services of meat and meat by-products. If any business is found to be selling “lòng xe điếu” (double-skinned offal), the authority will conduct sample testing, and violations will be strictly handled according to regulations.
