Warning not reaching the people: Who is responsible?
On June 4, 2025, the Investigation Police Agency of Hung Yen Provincial Police officially prosecuted the case of production and trading of counterfeit food products at the factory of Nhat Minh Food Import-Export Production and Export Company Limited - headquartered in Pho Noi A Industrial Park, Van Lam District, Hung Yen Province.
Initial investigation results show that from 2022 to May 2025, Nhat Minh Food Company has produced refined vegetable oils with the brand name Ofood Cooking Oil, Ofood soybean oil - with un guaranteed quality, even classified as fake goods, which cannot become food for humans. However, these products are widely distributed in many provinces and cities across the country.
Since the beginning of June, Hung Yen Provincial Police have issued documents to the Market Management and Food Safety Departments of provinces and cities; requesting widespread coordination to warn, stop distribution, and recommend people not to use Ofood Cooking Oil product labels.
It was not until June 24, when Vietnam Television aired a report covering up the entire incident, that consumers were surprised that the cooking oil they were using, even used for many months, was a product under investigation and was a fake.
According to a survey by PV, on June 24, it was shown that: Products with the Ofood Cooking Oil brand are still publicly advertised on Shopee, Tiki, Lazada and many other e-commerce platforms.
It was not until the morning of June 25, nearly 3 weeks after the official warning, that these products began to gradually disappear from "online markets".
As of the morning of June 26-27, these products are still on sale at traditional markets. Women - regular customers at traditional markets, continue to be victims of dirty oil.
Traditional markets also "pass" warnings
According to Lao Dong reporters, on the morning of June 26, at large unit markets in Hanoi such as Den Lu, Ha Dong, Minh Khai, Hoai Duc district, the situation of cheap cooking oil trading - including the Ofood brand - still quietly took place.
According to Ms. L. (owner of a kiosk at Minh Khai market), said: "Ofood was imported at a very cheap price, but when sold, customers easily complained because the oil quickly stained and sold, so we had to return it to the distributor later". However, what makes traders more upset is that such poor quality goods "break prices", causing standard items to lose customers.
Another store owner in the Minh Khai market area said: "With the same quantity, Ofood oil can be 45,000 - 50,000 VND/barrel cheaper than reputable brands".
Food safety warning system delayed
On websites of state management agencies such as the Food Safety Sub-Department of the provinces, the Food Safety Department - Ministry of Health has absolutely no warnings posted before June 24.
On the evening of June 24, the Food Safety Department - Ministry of Health spoke about the case of animal oil turning into cooking oil. The first thing when announcing the incident was that this unit affirmed that vegetable oils belong to the product group under the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Trade for state management of food safety, including the entire production, processing, trading and circulation chain in the market.
Next, the new Food Safety Department issued a warning that this is a serious violation of food safety regulations, potentially affecting public health. Then advise the people.
Thus, consumers, once again, became the last known group after they were direct victims of dirty oils, suffering health and financial losses.
According to some traders, although there were inspection teams appearing at the market before, they "never confiscated or warned anything related to Ofood".
The delay in issuing warnings to consumers despite the investigation agency having issued a document since June 4 shows a serious loophole in the food safety warning communication process.
It is not difficult to ask the question: Why don't food safety departments post public warnings? Why didn't e-commerce platforms take action to review and remove products immediately after the warning? Why is it that when the press takes strong action, everything is "shattered" to change?
Counterfeit goods and poor quality goods in the food sector not only cause economic losses but also pose a potential threat to public health. In this case, the unfortunate story is not the "fake oil appearance", but a warning that has been issued but cannot be reached by the right person, at the right time. Because behind each bottle of seemingly harmless oil is the health of millions of consumers.
