On 9/10, Dong Nai City Police initiated legal proceedings against the farm owner and a 72-year-old man. They face investigation for violating food safety regulations, as stipulated in Clause 4, Article 317 of the Penal Code.

Previously, the Economic Police Department, in coordination with the Sub-Department of Livestock and Fisheries, inspected the pig farm located in Tan An commune. During the inspection, authorities discovered 2,349 pigs, with a total estimated value of 15 billion dong, that tested positive for Salbutamol. All pigs were immediately seized.

Authorities determined that the two defendants aimed for rapid weight gain in their pig herd before sale. To achieve this, they conspired to purchase Salbutamol and mix it into the pig feed.

With a typical market weight of 95-105 kg per pig, this herd represents over 220-240 tons of live pigs. If processed, the estimated amount of dressed meat could range from 160-185 tons.

The farm owner hears the order to prosecute the defendant. Photo: Thai Ha

In a related development, Ho Chi Minh City Police previously dismantled a ring involved in mixing Salbutamol into feed to promote leanness and fatten pigs. This operation resulted in over 10,000 tons of contaminated pork being released to the market, generating billions of dong in illicit profits. Investigations revealed that most of the pigs contaminated with the banned substance originated from farms in Dong Nai.

Salbutamol is a medication used to treat certain respiratory illnesses, but its use as a leanness-enhancing agent in livestock farming is prohibited. When residual Salbutamol is present in meat, it can cause various health issues in consumers, including rapid heartbeat, tremors, headaches, increased blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypokalemia. Individuals with cardiovascular conditions are particularly susceptible to these adverse effects.

Therefore, incorporating Salbutamol into feed to fatten and create leanness in pigs not only violates livestock regulations but also poses a direct risk to consumer health.

Phuoc Tuan