Who is Responsible for the Nearly 3,000 Tons of Bean Sprouts Soaked in Banned Substances?

In relation to the case of nearly 3,000 tons of bean sprouts being distributed to the market, on December 29, a leader of the Market Management Department of Dak Lak province said that their unit mainly inspects administrative procedures such as business licenses, business conditions, and tax obligations to the state, among others.

Specifically, the Management Department does not inspect product quality, as this responsibility falls under the Plant and Product Quality Management Division of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Lak province.

According to the Plant and Product Quality Management Division, out of the six bean sprout production facilities that were raided by the police, only the facility owned by Lam Dao had a certificate of food safety and hygiene conditions granted by the division. However, the certificate was only for the processing, packaging, and trading of mung beans, not for the use of chemicals in the production process, which is considered farming and therefore falls under the management of the Plant Protection Division of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dak Lak province.

Currently, the Dak Lak Provincial Police are expanding their investigation into the case of nearly 3,000 tons of bean sprouts soaked in 6-Benzylaminopurine, a growth enhancer commonly known as “candy water,” which were distributed to the market in 2024.

Previously, the Economic Police of the Dak Lak Provincial Police inspected six bean sprout production facilities in Buon Ma Thuot City, including two facilities owned by Lam Van Dao in Buon Ko Tam, Ea Tu Ward; two facilities owned by Vu Duy Tu, one facility owned by Nguyen Van Quynh, and one facility owned by Nguyen Van Hao, all residing in Tan Hoa Ward, Tan Hoa Ward.

The police discovered that all six facilities were using the growth enhancer 6-Benzylaminopurine (“candy water”) in the production of bean sprouts. This substance is banned from being used in food products, and consuming large amounts of it can be fatal.

At the time of the inspection, the police seized over 20 tons of bean sprouts that had been soaked in the banned substance and 135 liters of “candy water.”

The investigation revealed that in 2024, the six facilities distributed approximately 2,900 tons of chemically treated bean sprouts to the market.

The Economic Police of the Dak Lak Provincial Police have decided to prosecute four cases and arrest and detain four facility owners for violating regulations on food safety, as prescribed in Article 317 of the Penal Code.