Seasoning powder product 'Knorr guarantee' of Unilever Bestfoods & Elida P / S Vietnam is advertised as a monosodium glutamate substitute, even on the label also says: more natural than MSG. However, a test result showed
The product 'Knorr guarantee' of Unilever Bestfoods & Elida P / S Vietnam is advertised as a substitute for monosodium glutamate, even on the label: it is more natural than monosodium glutamate.However, a test result showed that "Knorr guarantees" contains up to 30% of MSG!
MSG and flavor enhancer 621: but two!
Picture 1 of 'Knorr is in charge': ignoring the consumer
The part with the wrongdoing on the labeling of goods on the packaging
On the test report card dated September 26, 2005, the Quality Measurement Technical Center 3 of Knorr is taking charge (sampling on September 23, 2005), the results are as follows:
-The amount of the total sugar yield to saccharose calculated by mass is 12.8%.
The salt content calculated by volume is 53.8%
- Protein content calculated by volume of 13.7%.
-The amount of monosodium glutamate (monosodium glutamate) is calculated as 30% by weight.
Thus, in ten clear years, "Knorr guaranteed" seasoning powder contains monosodium glutamate, but on the label this product is printed 'more naturally than monosodium glutamate' and 'use Knorr to make sure to replace the MSG / main pasta when cooking to make the dish always tasty, harmonious and natural '. This information on product labels has made consumers think that this is a new product, not containing MSG.
Another argument is that the 621 substance recorded in the composition of 'Knorr is in charge'. According to the list of additives approved for use in food by the Food Safety and Quality Control Bureau, 621 is Monosodium Glutamat, and this is the English name for MSG! Thus, 'Knorr guarantees' is not transparent to consumers.
In terms of quality announcement, 'Knorr is sure' is not wrong because there is MSG in the ingredients, but it is not specified as MSG.
The loss is inclined to consumers
After analyzing the composition of Knorr, it is new to see that consumers are being misled by words - a kind of "ignoring black cheating". We conducted interviews with housewives who often use seasoning powder, the general answer is: 'Use Knorr as a superior product than MSG'. And yet it contains monosodium glutamate in small quantities!
The second damage is a component of Knorr seasoning powder that should have been spiced, because this product has more than half of salt, sugar and monosodium glutamate (according to VN standards for seasoning soup in the art. language and definition) but not clearly stated and sold at a higher price than seasoning spice powder. The Health Ministry's representative said: 'The product itself contains monosodium glutamate but it is written in the code, how can ordinary people know. What about people who are allergic to MSG, think of this product as having no MSG, buying it and using it to affect their health? '
Regulatory authority: where banning circulation, place postponed!
The Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health issued Official Letter No. 757 / TTra- CV2 dated October 13, 2005, requesting the suspension of the circulation of Knorr products because of improper labeling. According to the Inspectorate, the product label is 'more natural than MSG' and 'use Knorr to replace the MSG when cooking so that the dish is always good, harmonious and natural' while This product contains significant amounts of monosodium glutamate.
On October 14, 2005, the Market Management Department issued an official dispatch No. 395 QLTT-PCKT to the Market Management Department of provinces and cities to stop trading this item to recover and remedy wrongdoings after October 24, 2005. will organize and properly handle lawful cases of business. '
However, on October 21, 2005, the Ministry of Trade issued a document (signed by Vice Minister Phan The Rue) regarding the handling of trademark violations' Knorr is guaranteed 'with the following contents:' violations of trademarks The above is mainly not labeling the goods as initially registered, bringing the product to the consumer market causing confusion for consumers' and stating the idea of postponing the implementation of Official Letter 395 / QLTT-PCKT (!) . The deadline for this dispatch will be announced by the Director of Market Management Department after working with Unilever Vietnam and state management agencies.
On the consumer side, learning how to read trademarks to choose the right products is becoming useless!
"Knorr guarantees": high-price spice soup!
According to the test results of the Quality Measurement Technical Center 3, the composition of 'Knorr guaranteed salt seasoners' includes salt (53.8%), sugar (12.8%), monosodium glutamate (30 %), protein powder (13.7%). Thus, this seasoning salt is 'spontaneously' as spice soup according to the Vietnamese Standard definition (TCVN 7396: 2004). But the manufacturer did not write the seasoning soup but 'Knorr is sure - multi-purpose seasoning product'. The price of 200gr spice powder of Thien Huong, A - One, Miwon, Hai Chau and Phu Cuong companies has a retail price of 1,200 - 1,800 VND / package, while 'Knorr' is about 180gr. VND 5,000 / package.
Consumer comments
Mr. Ha Ky Nhu, a house in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City: 'My family used to use MSG to taste food. Every time I use MSG, I have a cold allergy in the back of my neck. So then I don't eat MSG. When I heard the introduction of 'Knorr sure' could replace MSG, I immediately bought it, but after I finished eating I was cold at the back of my neck. I think maybe this product has MSG. Today, when I read the information about the Knorr incident on Sai Gon Tiep Thi online, I just realized that my feelings are not wrong. "
Ms. Hoang Hue, who lives in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City who regularly uses Knorr products, commented: 'I don't like to use MSG, so when listening to Knorr advertising' can replace MSG 'and' harmonious enough taste ', I bought it for the whole family to use. My family can be trusted and used in all dishes. When I found out about Knorr's information about 30% MSG, I felt like I was tricked and even more annoyed when I thought I had used MSG with an uncontrolled dose for a long time. "