Enterprises confirm production but deni discharge
Regarding the case of about 1,000 bottles of expired fish sauce and dipping sauce being discovered illegally dumped in the main canal area of Phu Ninh (Phu Ninh district, Quang Nam province), Thanh Hoa Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company - headquartered in Thanh Hoa city - has confirmed that the shipment is a product of its production, but denied organizing the discharge into the environment.
Talking to Lao Dong, Mr. Le Hung Quang - Director of the company said that the shipment that was dumped was a trial product under the Kapok brand, manufactured since 2023 to explore the Southern market.
Due to the product not being accepted and not being sold, the company announced to stop production and proactively destroy, not selling the inventory to the market.
For the shipment of about 1,000 bottles of fish sauce and dipping sauce, Mr. Quang said he would give it to a dealer in Phu Ninh, Quang Nam in 2023. Theft into the environment is an arbitrary act by the agent or company that does not know and does not direct.
"We can't sell, now we are in a situation of "half-crying, half-laughing", being affected by this expired fish sauce batch" - Mr. Quang explained.
According to Lao Dong, the incident occurred in the context of Thanh Hoa Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company facing serious financial difficulties. From April 2025, the company officially suspended production activities, due to no longer being able to maintain operations and pay insurance for employees.
Temporarily suspended operations due to difficulties
During the time of eating and drinking, the company maintained more than 10 workers directly at the fish sauce production facility. However, the prolonged decline in consumption in recent years has made the company no longer able to pay social insurance for employees, leading to insurance debts.
Mr. Quang confirmed that the company also owes corporate income tax, lasting over 90 days, leading to the blocking of bank accounts and the enforcement of invoices, and the inability to continue issuing sales invoices.
"The enterprise is narrowing its scale, maintaining only some basic activities, mainly related to traditional fish sauce Thanh Hai - a brand that has been around since the subsidy period, and has been equitized since 2004" - Mr. Quang said.
Previously, on the evening of June 18, people in Tam Thai commune (Phu Ninh district, Quang Nam) discovered a large amount of fish sauce bottle dumped in the bushes along the main canal of Phu Ninh. Through verification, the authorities collected and counted more than 1,000 bottles of fish sauce, dipping sauce and chili sauce of the Kapok brand - most of which have expired for several months to more than a year. The packaging clearly states the origin of the product from Thanh Hoa Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company.
Quang Nam Provincial Police have summoned two suspects related to dumping, and coordinated with the Market Management Department and interdisciplinary agencies to clarify the origin, responsibilities and propose a handling plan in accordance with legal regulations.
The business side said it is ready to fully coordinate with the authorities, provide documents and records such as: Business license, food hygiene and safety qualified facility...
At the same time, businesses also hope not to be criticized or criticized for discharge behavior, when they themselves are the party affected by the inappropriate behavior of the partner.
Regarding the incident of more than 1,000 bottles of fish sauce thrown into the bushes in Quang Nam province, the authorities of Thanh Hoa province have established a team to inspect the factory of Thanh Hoa Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company (at 149 Le Lai Street, Dong Son, Thanh Hoa City).
