Three outlets of C.P. Vietnam fined for food safety violations

Three CP Fresh Shop outlets operated by Thailand-invested C.P. Vietnam in the southern province of Soc Trang have been fined a total of VND105 million ($4,100) for food safety violations.

C.P. Vietnam is a subsidiary of Thai food giant Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF).

The administrative penalty decision was issued by the Inspectorate of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, following an inspection of CP Fresh Shop stores in the locality.

The stores include one in My Xuyen township in My Xuyen district and two in Soc Trang town. Each of them was fined VND35 million ($1,345).

In addition to expired food safety certifications, one location failed to present valid training certification in food safety for the owner and staff, and the two others only provided photocopies.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, once the violations are corrected and updated food safety certificates are obtained, the stores will be allowed to resume operations.

Previously, a social media account under the name Jonny Lieu (real name Lieu Quy Ngan), who claimed to be a former employee of the CP Fresh Shop in My Xuyen, accused company leadership of ordering the sale of diseased pork and chicken.

He stated that he worked there in 2022 and had reported the issue to managers but received no response, and was later reassigned to another job.

In response, C.P. Vietnam issued an official statement denying the allegations, claiming that the information was false and fabricated with the intent to defame the company. The images posted were said to be of unknown origin and not feature the company’s products.

C.P. asserted that its products complied with strict quality control procedures and was cooperating with relevant authorities to resolve the matter, urging the public to approach the situation with caution.

On May 30-31, an inter-agency inspection team from Soc Trang province inspected four C.P. stores in the area.

Police from Soc Trang and its neighboring Hau Giang province have also interviewed Ngan to gather relevant documentation.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on June 4 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.

At a press meeting on June 3, the department of animal husbandry and veterinary medicine at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment stated that the widely circulated image of diseased pigs from C.P. Vietnam was improperly stamped.

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.