“In a recent report by Buzzmetrics, there were over 12,000 discussions surrounding the topic of “fake milk” on social media platforms in the four days following the incident’s exposure. Most of these discussions involved concerned parents sharing their experiences of accidentally purchasing inferior quality products. In this context, the dairy market needs an objective evaluation mechanism to act as a “filter” for consumers to place their trust in the right places.
The importance of independent certification:
It is quite common in developed countries like the US and Europe to have non-profit organizations dedicated to food quality testing. The testing conditions are based on stringent regulations regarding the control of contaminant residue in food products.
One of the most reputable independent organizations is the Clean Label Project (CLP) based in the US. They bestow the Purity Award, a prestigious recognition of a product’s safety and purity. To attain this award, infant formula products must surpass over 400 stringent quality and production criteria, ensuring no residue of pesticides, heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic), or industrial chemicals (BPA, BPS, Phthalates).
These compounds pose potential health risks, affecting the nervous system and causing endocrine disruptions in young children. In developed nations, the presence of independent certifications on product packaging serves as an indicator of a product’s safety for consumers.
Amidst the fake milk scandal, very few Vietnamese consumers paid attention to the aspect of purity when purchasing milk for their children, mainly comparing the number of ingredients. Nonetheless, leading Vietnamese dairy companies like Vinamilk have never taken this standard lightly.
In 2022, Vinamilk’s Optimum Gold brand appeared on CLP’s website with the introduction, “The first Asian brand to receive the Purity Award.” By early 2023, the company’s entire remaining line of infant formula products, including Dielac, YokoGold, and Optimum Colos (formerly ColosGold), were also awarded the Purity Award. This is a positive development for the Vietnamese dairy industry, as the list of recognized brands previously consisted mostly of American and European companies.
Jaclyn Bowen, Executive Director of CLP, stated that consumers are increasingly demanding higher standards of quality and transparency in product information, especially regarding children’s food products. She emphasized, “We highly value the efforts and proactive approach of companies like Vinamilk in setting higher standards for infant formula products.”
The key to achieving pure infant formula:
The path to attaining independent certification is challenging, with a series of stringent criteria. One critical factor is a fully integrated and closed production line, as a non-integrated line can create gaps allowing impurities to enter the formula.
Vinamilk’s infant formula plant in VSIP 1 Industrial Park, Binh Duong, Vietnam, maintains a fully integrated and closed production line. As the only company in Vietnam with its own drying tower, Vinamilk independently controls the drying process of nutritional ingredients, ensuring autonomy and the ability to meticulously control the purity of raw materials.
The drying tower at Vinamilk’s plant has the capacity to provide sufficient infant formula servings for millions of children daily.
The drying tower at Vinamilk’s plant has the capacity to provide sufficient infant formula servings for millions of children daily.
The milk powder is blended and filled into cans in a completely sterile environment, equivalent to hospital operating room standards. Vinamilk also independently handles can rolling and packaging printing, all of which are automated in the integrated line and constantly sterilized with UV light.
In reality, according to Vinamilk, outsourcing tin cans from external suppliers carries the risk of substandard quality, and the transportation process to the plant can expose the packaging to environmental factors and moisture, indirectly affecting the milk’s quality. Vinamilk’s autonomous production of cans and packaging is crucial to controlling the risk of bacterial contamination and reverse metal migration into the milk.
Automated production segment at Vinamilk’s Vietnamese infant formula plant.
Vinamilk has opened its plant to consumers, allowing them to witness and hear about the company’s closed production line.
“When I entered the plant, I didn’t see many workers because most of the processes are automated. The air here is odorless, indicating a completely closed system. Seeing it for myself is far more convincing than any advertisement,” shared K.H., a 36-year-old resident of Ho Chi Minh City.
Building trust through transparency:
With the proliferation of information and advertising on online platforms, consumers are increasingly cautious about vague claims of “cleanliness” and “safety,” especially in the infant nutrition sector. Instead, they tend to gravitate towards brands that offer verifiable data, transparent processes, and third-party validation.
From a consumer perspective, factors such as international certifications, publicly disclosed procedures, and periodic independent inspections are not merely “added values” but have become essential criteria for making purchasing decisions. Understanding this need, Vinamilk’s strategy of investing in high-quality raw materials, transparent production processes, and international standards has successfully maintained consumer trust amidst the dairy industry’s “trust crisis.” This effort also contributes to elevating consumer awareness, emphasizing the importance of demanding higher quality standards and independent testing when choosing products for children.
Consumers delight in freshly produced pure milk cans straight from the factory.
T.L., a mother from Hai Duong, shared her story from the beginning of this article, decided to switch to Dielac after researching its quality and certification. “I am delighted that my child accepts the new milk, and I am relieved that I no longer have to worry about the product’s quality,” she confided.
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