Agriculture ministry proposes police probe into allegations C.P. Vietnam sold 'diseased pork'

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on Wednesday asked the Ministry of Public Security to investigate social media allegations that C.P. Vietnam, a subsidiary of Thailand’s food giant Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF), sold “diseased pork.”

The document sent to the public security ministry was signed by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien.

In the document, the agriculture ministry called for strict handling of any wrongdoings by organizations or individuals, if found.

The move is to “promptly reassure consumers while preventing negative impacts on the livestock and poultry meat production and supply chain,” the ministry explained.

It said that on May 30, a social media post by user Jonny Lieu, who has 29,000 followers, accused C.P. Vietnam’s leadership of serious violations at the C.P. Fresh Shop in My Xuyen town, My Xuyen district, the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang.

According to the man, who said he previously worked at C.P. Vietnam, diseased pigs and chickens, often giving off a foul odor, were routinely mixed in and delivered to the Fresh Shop. Staff were instructed to sell them in the Soc Trang market.

The agriculture ministry then directed veterinary forces to work with local authorities to verify the claims reported by the media.

At the time of inspection, no expired items or diseased pork or chicken products were found. However, the store’s food safety certification had expired in March 2025, and the facility failed to produce the business registration certificate and proof of food safety training.

Last Saturday, inspections were conducted at the remaining three C.P. Vietnam stores in Soc Trang province.

The team found no evidence of diseased pork or chicken products, or expired items being sold at the locations. However, food safety certificates for two stores had lapsed.

At a press meeting on Tuesday, the department of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment confirmed that the widely circulated image of diseased pigs from C.P. Vietnam was improperly stamped.

Nguyen Thu Thuy, deputy director of the department, explained that pigs with skin disease designated for repurposing must bear a circular stamp, while those slated for destruction received a triangular stamp. The square seal is reserved exclusively for products approved for market circulation.

However, the photo circulating on social media shows C.P. Vietnam’s pigs with skin disease bearing square inspection stamps.

In response to the violation, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien demanded a thorough probe to identify those responsible for the incorrect stamping, emphasizing that the ministry will pursue full accountability.

The department of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine was instructed to “urgently carry out” the task and submit a written report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment by June 5 for review and further guidance.

C.P. Vietnam has dismissed the social media allegations of selling diseased pork, calling them fabricated and false. The claims were intended to defame and damage the company, it said in a formal statement, urging stakeholders to stay calm and take a balanced, discerning view of the available information.

Established in 1993, C.P. Vietnam currently operates nine feed production plants in Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Tien Giang, Can Tho and Ben Tre in southern Vietnam, Dak Lak in the Central Highlands, and Hanoi and Hai Duong province in the north.

Its product range covers livestock feed for pigs, beef cattle, and dairy cattle; poultry feed for broilers, layers, ducks, and quail; and aquaculture feed for shrimp and fish. C.P. also runs three food and seafood processing plants in Dong Nai and Hanoi.

Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF), the parent of C.P. Vietnam, earned a revenue of THB122 billion ($3.62 billion) in Vietnam in 2024, up 5% year-on-year.

According to the firm’s performance review for 2024, the revenue in Vietnam accounted for 21% of CPF’s total revenue, or the second-biggest portion. Thailand, its domestic market, made up 37% of the total, or the biggest portion. The third rank belonged to China with 6%.