On 13/9, Da Nang City's Economic Police Department arrested Thanh and prosecuted his wife, Bui Song Hau, 42, who was released on bail. They are being investigated for producing and trading counterfeit food and food additives.

Thanh and Hau with some of the confiscated evidence. Photo: Thanh Anh

Thanh and Hau with some of the confiscated evidence. Photo: Thanh Anh

The couple owned a vinegar production facility, distributing over 1,000 liters daily. Instead of producing brown rice vinegar through natural fermentation, they diluted industrial acetic acid with well water (2 liters of acid per 100 liters of water) to make counterfeit vinegar.

Exceeding the permitted levels of this acid can cause stomach damage, nerve poisoning, and even cancer and death.

Authorities seized over 2,000 bottles (about 2,000 liters) of counterfeit vinegar and 20 cans of pure acetic acid (600 liters) from the factory. If used, these ingredients could have produced about 30,000 liters of counterfeit vinegar, posing a severe health risk to consumers.

On 11/9, the Economic Police Department also busted a fake bird's nest production ring, confiscating nearly 38,000 bottles.

Ngoc Truong