Suburban markets lack control over poultry sales, and duck blood soup continues to be consumed without concern. Processed poultry is sold everywhere in the market without any supervision.
Reporters have observed that the slaughtering of poultry is carried out in very unsanitary conditions. Ducks and chickens are inserted headfirst into a specialized funnel for bloodletting. Dirty water on the poultry can drip into the blood collection bowl. It is noted that although it is a wholesale market, Long Bien Market still does not meet hygiene standards. Meanwhile, proposals to establish poultry slaughtering facilities in suburban areas have not yet been approved.
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At the “Duck Center” near the Diễn Bridge, local residents have shown no reaction to the avian flu outbreak. All stalls selling roasted and boiled ducks, as well as duck blood soup, continue to operate normally with a steady flow of customers.
Mr. Thức, a resident of Canh Village, stated: “Only those households with many ducks are concerned about using disinfectants; otherwise, they are not. Generally, ducks here are just hard to transport to the city, but they are still sold regularly in the village.” No one pays attention to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s recommendation against consuming duck blood soup due to the risk of avian flu transmission.
A supplier who provides ducks to restaurants affirmed that reusing duck cages with pre-applied quarantine labels might give buyers some peace of mind. However, that label could be from several days prior. In the rural markets, there is absolutely no quarantine inspector present.
Meanwhile, in urban markets, duck and chicken meat continue to be sold widely, although customer numbers have slightly decreased. However, some ready-to-cook meat vendors claim that the poultry supplied to their stores is pre-processed, so they are unaware if it has been inspected. This presents a risk of avian flu transmission due to a lack of control over processed meat.
Ms. Hương, a homemaker, expressed her hesitance in purchasing these items as there are no certifications; dishes like lotus stem salad mixed with chicken seem concerning because sellers can source chickens from anywhere, slaughter them themselves, and mix them as they see fit. Who can guarantee that the chicken used is safe?
At Long Bien Market, the volume of poultry sold is lower than usual. Hygiene issues remain a significant concern despite having been warned long ago.
MANH TUAN
