On 1/6, Luu Van Thiep, 34; Lam Van Hung, 33; Nguyen Van Dinh, 34; and Tran Van Nghia were arrested and temporarily detained by the Ho Chi Minh City Police's Economic Police Department for violating food safety regulations.
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Luu Van Thiep (far right) with three others. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police
In 5/2025, police conducted simultaneous raids on three production facilities in Thong Tay Hoi ward, owned by Thiep, Hung, and Dinh. They uncovered widespread violations, seizing 860 plastic tubs of bean sprouts and hundreds of liters of pre-mixed 6-Benzylaminopurine solution used in production.
Interrogated by authorities, the group admitted that during the bean sprout cultivation process, they secretly added 6-Benzylaminopurine, a substance they colloquially referred to as "candy" water to evade detection. This was in addition to green beans, lime, and well water.
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Bean sprouts soaked in chemicals to make them plump and heavy. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police
Despite knowing that 6-Benzylaminopurine is not approved for food use and is harmful, the group misused it to stimulate shorter roots and concentrate nutrients, resulting in plump, heavy, and visually appealing bean sprouts.
Investigators determined that from 2022 until their arrest, the three facilities collectively supplied about 3 tons of chemically-treated bean sprouts daily. These products were primarily distributed to market stalls and restaurants in Binh Thanh and Go Vap districts. The total amount of contaminated bean sprouts released to the market exceeded 1,000 tons, generating an estimated 8 billion VND.
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Police inspecting the facilities. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police
Consuming food treated with 6-Benzylaminopurine can lead to acute poisoning, digestive disorders, shortness of breath, and lung damage. Long-term exposure to this chemical also carries the risk of causing birth defects or other serious health conditions.
Ho Chi Minh City Police warned that any misuse of this substance in food production and processing will be severely penalized by law.
Quoc Thang
