Haiphong Speaks Out Over Cột Đèn Pate Controversy

On January 12th, Hai Phong City clarified the traditional Pate Cot Den brand to prevent consumer confusion with “Pate Cot Den Hai Phong” produced by Halong Canfoco Joint Stock Company.

According to the Hai Phong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in recent days, Halong Canfoco JSC was found by authorities to have violated food safety regulations in the processing and packaging of canned products, including those labeled “Pate Cot Den Hai Phong.”

Notably, the name Pate Cot Den Hai Phong by Halong Canfoco JSC overlaps with the traditional pate product sold by local vendors in the Cot Den market area of Le Chan district for many years. This traditional pate is a renowned part of Hai Phong’s food tour experience.

The Hai Phong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated that this overlap has caused public confusion, negatively impacting the business of local pate vendors in the Cot Den area and directly affecting the reputation and tourism image of Hai Phong City.

In reality, the two products are entirely unrelated. The traditional Cot Den market pate, a beloved choice for locals and tourists visiting Hai Phong, is one of the city’s signature specialties.

In contrast to Halong Canfoco’s canned pate (industrially produced, packaged in small tin cans with a long shelf life and distributed nationwide in supermarkets), traditional Cot Den pate is fresh, characterized by its rich, melting fat, the aroma of liver and fried garlic, and a short shelf life requiring refrigeration to preserve its authentic flavor. This specialty is prepared by local vendors in the Cot Den market area on Chua Hang street, Le Chan district, and primarily sold in the Cot Den market and surrounding streets (Hang Kenh, Nguyen Cong Tru, etc.).

Previously, on September 8th, 2025, the Police Department for Investigation of Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes discovered two vehicles and arrested Le Ba Doanh (born 1977, residing at 12/48 Ton Duc Thang, An Bien Ward, Hai Phong) and Trinh Ha Viet (born 1991, residing in Thien Trang village, Ha Nam commune, Hai Phong) for transporting and selling 1,274.5 kg of slaughtered pork with a foul odor, of unknown origin, testing positive for African swine fever virus from affected areas to food processing companies in the city for consumption.

Test results confirmed that pork samples from Le Ba Doanh’s and Trinh Ha Viet’s vehicles, as well as samples from Halong Canfoco JSC’s cold storage (located at 71 Le Lai, Ngo Quyen district, Hai Phong), were positive for African swine fever virus.

During an emergency search of Halong Canfoco JSC’s headquarters and warehouses, Hai Phong City Police sealed four storage facilities containing approximately 130 tons of frozen pork.

At the time of inspection, authorities found a large quantity of pork that had spoiled, was leaking fluids, and emitted a putrid odor, failing to meet any food safety standards. Notably, about 2 tons of this pork had already been processed into canned meat, posing a significant health risk to consumers if released to the market.

On September 12th, 2025, the Hai Phong City Police Investigation Agency initiated a case for “Violation of Food Safety Regulations.” By December 24th, 2025, they charged nine individuals involved in the collection, transportation, and distribution of over 130 tons of pork infected with African swine fever for canned food production, under Article 317, Clause 4 of the Penal Code.

On January 10th, the Hai Phong City Police Investigation Agency executed an emergency arrest warrant for Truong Sy Toan (born 1969, residing in Ha Lam Ward, Quang Ninh Province), CEO of Halong Canfoco JSC, for his direct involvement in managing the company’s operations related to the collection and storage of large quantities of diseased pork in the company’s cold storage facilities.

On the same day, the investigation agency also arrested three individuals: Pham Thi Thuy Lan (born 1980, Deputy Head of Quality Management), Bui Thi Thoan (born 1979, employee responsible for raw material quality inspection), and Lai Thi Thanh Huong (born 1974, employee in the Quality Management Department’s input section). These individuals were found to be involved in inspecting and evaluating pork quality before storage and production.

Following the CEO’s arrest on January 10th, the Halong Canfoco JSC Board of Directors unanimously decided to temporarily halt production at the Halong Canning Factory in Hai Phong for a maximum of 14 days starting January 12th. The duration of the suspension may be extended or adjusted based on actual developments and reported to the Board for further decisions.

The Board also tasked Mr. Cao Nhat Huy with collaborating with the Human Resources Department to develop and implement a plan for employee arrangements during the production suspension. Mr. Huy is to provide regular and timely reports to the Board on personnel and labor matters throughout the suspension period.

Mr. Cao Nhat Huy has been temporarily authorized to manage the factory’s daily operations as necessary to ensure stability and compliance with legal regulations. This authorization remains in effect until the Board issues a new decision.