Obscure Origins of Animal By-Products

The 40-Meter Pig Intestine Phenomenon: A Culinary Curiosity in Vietnam

In early May 2025, a TikTok video featuring a 40-meter pig intestine caused a stir in Vietnam, bringing the delicacy, colloquially known as “lòng xe điếu” or pig large intestine, into the spotlight.

Widespread Trade

Many were surprised to see this rare dish, typically absent from traditional markets, being served in eateries and restaurants at a premium price. This sparked a series of concerns regarding food safety, sourcing, and preservation methods, prompting authorities to intervene and investigate the matter.

On May 7, food safety inspectors from Ho Chi Minh City visited ‘Lòng Chát’ in Tan Binh District, a renowned destination for pig large intestine dishes. However, the inspection was hindered as the owner refused to sign the report. The following day, authorities continued their efforts to complete the necessary paperwork and collect samples for testing, including checks for formaldehyde and borax.

Meanwhile, another team inspected the offal trading area at Hoc Mon wholesale market but found no traces of pig large intestines. The representative from the Trading Department of Hoc Mon Agricultural Product Wholesale Market Management and Trading Company Ltd. affirmed that the market only sells fresh offal from animals slaughtered on the same day and does not trade in frozen products. “The market does not sell pig large intestines,” the representative confirmed.

In Hanoi, on May 8, the inter-sector inspection team of Cau Giay District paid a visit to “Lòng chát quán,” owned by Ngo Quyen The, who gained fame on TikTok as “Thế Lòng Se Điếu.” Mr. The apologized for exaggerating the length of the intestine in his promotional video.

Mr. The stated that the pig large intestine typically weighs between 1-2 kilograms, depending on the batch, but was unable to present documents verifying the legal origin of the goods. So far, the establishment has only provided a contract for food procurement from an individual in Thuong Tin district, Hanoi, but lacks the required slaughterhouse documentation. Therefore, the inspection team requested “Lòng chát quán” to furnish complete documentation regarding the supplier’s credentials by 4 PM on May 9, in accordance with regulations.

The incident involving pig large intestines has sparked broader concerns about the proliferation of frozen offal from various animals, including pork, poultry, goat, and beef, in the market, leaving consumers with little means to trace their origins. On Facebook, numerous groups dedicated to trading frozen food products, such as “Total Frozen Food Warehouse” and “Frozen Food Wholesale Market,” boast hundreds of thousands of members and thrive with vibrant trading activities.

Online marketplaces are flooded with sellers offering poultry and pork offal by the crate at incredibly low prices, starting from just tens of thousands of dong per kilogram. Most vendors advertise the presence of large cold storage facilities, home delivery services, and assurances of quality and authenticity, claiming that their products are imported.

One online seller, Ms. Tran Thi Thuy from Ho Chi Minh City, revealed that her goods originate from various sources, both domestic and foreign, and that prices decrease with larger order quantities. She promoted items such as stuffed intestines (with ducts) priced at VND 102,000/kg for orders of 50 kg, pork intestines at VND 129,000/kg, stomachs at VND 107,000/kg, and pig tail tendons at VND 89,000/kg, with prices varying based on purchase volume…

Another distributor, Ms. Nguyen Minh, offered deboned chicken feet at VND 90,000/kg for orders of 5 kg or more, with prices dropping to VND 84,000/kg for 50 kg and VND 82,000/kg for purchases of 100 kg or more. She assured that orders of 70-80 kg or more would be eligible for delivery, complete with proper invoices and documentation.

Infiltration of Smuggled Goods

However, according to the director of an import-export company in Ho Chi Minh City, many batches of frozen offal are actually surplus stocks from foreign countries, where consumer demand for such products is low, and suppliers seek to offload them in cheaper markets like Vietnam. This raises concerns about product quality if not properly monitored from the outset.

Preliminary statistics from the Customs Department reveal that in the first quarter of 2025, Vietnam imported more than 214,000 tons of meat and meat products, valued at over $437 million. Nearly 20% of this volume consisted of animal by-products, sourced primarily from markets such as India, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Russia, the US, Brazil, and South Korea. However, a market survey indicates that many vendors promote frozen offal from pork and poultry as Chinese products.

Ms. T.H. from Hai Duong shared that all the offal she sells, including pork intestines, chicken gizzards, and chicken eggs, originate from China. Specifically, Chinese pig intestines and gizzards are sold in 10-kilogram boxes. “I only sell to customers who purchase in bulk, starting from two boxes, at VND 108,000/kg,” she said. Regarding chicken eggs, the price varies depending on the type of yolk, ranging from VND 68,000 to VND 78,000/kg.

In a conversation with the NLD reporter, Mr. Duong Tat Thang, Director of the Department of Livestock Production and Veterinary, emphatically stated that Vietnam does not permit the importation of white offal from pigs and chickens, such as intestines, gizzards, and chicken giblets, in frozen form. Any such products advertised in the market are smuggled goods.

“Within the scope of our duties, the Department of Livestock Production and Veterinary is making every effort to prevent the entry of smuggled goods and ensure food safety for the people,” Mr. Thang emphasized.

However, the director acknowledged that a single agency cannot effectively combat smuggling and that seamless coordination between relevant authorities is essential.

A veterinary official also noted that among internal organs, only hearts and kidneys, classified as red offal, are permitted for importation. In contrast, white offal, such as omasum, stomach, caul fat, and fallopian tubes, are prohibited due to the risk of contamination with harmful bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. Nonetheless, these items continue to find their way into the market through illicit channels.

Enhanced Control and Transparency in Origin Tracing

The proliferation of cheap meat and offal of obscure origins has dealt a heavy blow to legitimate businesses and livestock farmers.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ngoc, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Livestock Association, expressed concern about the rampant sale of imported buffalo meat mislabeled as beef at a mere VND 70,000-90,000/kg, which is half the price of domestic beef. As a result, local cattle farmers are suffering significant losses, sometimes amounting to tens of millions of dong per animal, forcing many farms to shut down or downsize their herds.

The issue extends beyond farmers, impacting food processing businesses as well. The director of a Ho Chi Minh City-based food company voiced frustration over the abundance of substandard products, outnumbering branded goods subjected to stringent controls by a ratio of 3-4 to 1, yet selling at a mere VND 30,000-50,000/kg due to their primary composition of fish by-products, powder, and chemical flavorings. These by-products often originate from seafood processing plants, are poorly preserved, and pose a high risk of bacterial contamination.

The Department of Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade underscored the critical importance of verifying the origin and ensuring the safety of animal offal in the context of rising consumer concerns about food safety, particularly in processing and preservation.

Mr. Nguyen Tri Cong, Chairman of the Dong Nai Livestock Association, advocated for transparency in the origin of imported meat, similar to the traceability model implemented for pork in Ho Chi Minh City. He proposed that when selling frozen products in small quantities, supplementary labels should be mandatory, providing details such as product name, manufacturer, expiration date, and storage conditions. Mr. Cong also drew attention to the fact that Western consumers typically show little interest in offal like intestines, feet, and wings, making these parts more likely to be exported to markets like Vietnam, where there is still a cultural inclination to consume such products.

While globalization inevitably leads to an influx of inexpensive imports, stringent controls are imperative due to the heightened risk of food safety issues with this category of goods. Mr. Nguyen Tri Cong suggested increasing penalties for violations, akin to the stricter regulations in the transportation sector, along with intensified post-market surveillance through random sampling to promptly detect and address non-compliance.