Thai-backed food giant C.P. Vietnam rejects pork safety accusations 

C.P. Vietnam, a subsidiary of Thailand’s food giant Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF), has dismissed 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.

Accused of selling diseased pork, chicken

In recent days, social media has circulated a complaint from a 40-year-old man in My Xuyen town, My Xuyen district, the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, accusing C.P. Vietnam of selling diseased pork and chicken.

The man said he previously worked at C.P. Vietnam, handling pork processing. During his time at a C.P. Fresh Shop in My Xuyen, he uncovered serious violations committed by the company’s leadership.

According to the man, diseased pigs and chickens, often giving off a foul odor, were routinely mixed in and delivered to the Fresh Shop, where staff were instructed to sell them in the Soc Trang market.

“The diseased pork and chicken pieces looked terrible - covered with bumps, sores, abscesses, pus, and some were chopped into fragments, emitting a foul odor and swarming with flies, yet they were still sent to the store for sale.

Company management even instructed staff to sell these pieces at half price to locals for making sausages. Recognizing the complexity of the issue and its potential long-term impact on public health, I decided to file a formal complaint,” the man wrote.

To bolster credibility, apart from his address, the man included his phone number, photos of diseased pigs, and screenshots of message exchanges related to the case in his complaint. On Friday, he appeared in a livestream video to confirm the allegations.

The incident immediately sparked a public outcry and quickly went viral. Many have called on authorities to promptly investigate and clarify the matter.

Calling on parties to consider information from multiple perspectives

That afternoon, C.P. Vietnam issued a statement addressed to all customers, partners, and stakeholders.

In the statement signed by Le Hoang Chuong, communications director of C.P. Vietnam, the firm affirmed that the information is fabricated.

“We affirm that all information posted by the Facebook account ‘Jonny Lieu’ and the Zalo account ‘Ngan Tech’ is fabricated and false, intended to defame and cause damage to the company.”

The company emphasized that the photos circulating were unclear in origin and timing, and did not represent any C.P. Vietnam products.

“Our products comply with strict veterinary control and quality assurance processes, ensuring food safety and hygiene.”

The company said it is working closely with authorities to clarify and address the issue in line with the law, protecting its legal rights and ensuring strict measures against defamatory and fabricated claims.

“We deeply regret that this incident has disrupted and severely impacted the company’s operations, while also causing anxiety and concern among customers, partners, and the wider community.

The company earnestly urges all parties involved to remain calm and approach the information with a balanced and discerning perspective,” the statement read.

The company also stated it will promptly update customers, partners, and the community on the results of its verification efforts in coordination with relevant authorities.

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%.

On the afternoon of May 30, Tran Van Lau, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Soc Trang province, told the press he has directed police to investigate the case.

An inter-agency inspection team, comprising police, market management, and units from the provincial Departments of Agriculture and Environment, conducted a check at the Fresh Shop operated by C.P. Vietnam in My Xuyen town, My Xuyen district, Soc Trang province.