The Coffee Conundrum: Unraveling the Truth Behind the 17-Ton Fake Coffee Scandal in Phu Yen

Dạ Thảo Coffee: Unveiling the Truth Behind the “Pure and Natural” Claims

Dạ Thảo Coffee has been a well-known name in Phú Yên for years, offering a range of packaged coffee products with attractive designs and affordable prices for local consumers.

The coffee products are manufactured by Private Enterprise Đại Chúng – Dạ Thảo, headquartered in Phú Thứ town, Tây Hòa district, Phú Yên province, and owned by Ms. Đặng Thị Hòa Hiệp (DOB: 1972, permanent residence: Ward An Phú, Thủ Đức city, Ho Chi Minh city)

Despite lacking a nationwide distribution system, the brand has captured a significant market share in Central Vietnam, especially with its “pure and natural” coffee image, produced using a combination of traditional processes and modern technology.

Nearly 18 Tons of Substandard Coffee: A Billion-Dong Fraud

However, during an administrative inspection on April 11, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Environment and other authorities, the Economic Police of Phú Yên Provincial Police temporarily seized 6,845 bags of powdered coffee with a total weight of over 3,455 kg, a pickup truck with license plate 78C-064.94, and various tools and equipment, including coffee roasting, grinding, and mixing machines, packaging, printing machines for production dates and expiration dates, and containers of additives…

After a period of verification and evidence collection, including quality assessment, the Investigation Agency of Phú Yên Provincial Police has sufficient grounds to determine that due to the increase in the price of raw coffee beans, from December 2024 to mid-April 2025, Private Enterprise Đại Chúng – Dạ Thảo adjusted the production formula, reducing the caffeine content in Dạ Thảo-branded coffee products.

During this period, the total production volume of Private Enterprise Đại Chúng – Dạ Thảo was 21,093 kg, equivalent to 42,187 units of Dạ Thảo-branded coffee powder products. By the time the violation was exposed, the enterprise had sold 17,671 kg, equivalent to 35,342 units of coffee powder products, generating revenue of nearly VND 1.3 billion. The remaining products were seized by the Investigation Agency of Phú Yên Provincial Police.

During the investigation, Ms. Hiệp, as the owner of Private Enterprise Đại Chúng – Dạ Thảo, admitted to producing and trading Dạ Thảo-branded coffee powder products that did not meet the declared quality standards and engaged in quality fraud, violating legal regulations and causing harm to consumers. Realizing the seriousness of her actions, Ms. Hiệp voluntarily handed over VND 590 million to compensate for the damage caused.

On June 9, the Investigation Agency of Phú Yên Provincial Police issued an indictment against Ms. Đặng Thị Hòa Hiệp for the offense of “Production and trading of counterfeit goods that are food.”