On May 16, 2025, the Economic Police Department (PC03) - Hanoi City Police dismantled a large-scale production and trading ring of fake food and medical equipment, seizing about 100 tons of goods of unknown origin.
On May 18, the Food Safety Department (Ministry of Health) said it was coordinating with Hanoi City Police to verify and clarify the list of seized products to serve the investigation.
This ring is operated by Pham Ngoc Tien and Doan Thi Nguyet (both born in 1988, residing in Xa La Urban Area, Phuc La Ward, Ha Dong District, Hanoi). According to the initial investigation, the subjects established 17 " registered" companies, of which 6 companies had import functions, the rest specialized in domestic distribution. A large number of seized products include fake functional foods under many different labels, some of which have been put on the market for consumption.
The Food Safety Department is coordinating with PC03 to review and compare products that have been announced as health protection foods from related companies. The goal is to accurately identify fake products to take further measures and recommend them to the people.
While waiting for the official conclusion from the investigation agency, the Food Safety Department recommends that consumers absolutely do not buy or use the products that have been reported by press agencies in this incident, in order to avoid unnecessary health risks and financial losses.
The Department also said that after completing the investigation, a specific list of fake functional food products will be made public on the website for people to conveniently follow and be vigilant.
Previously, on May 5, 2025, the Ministry of Health issued Official Letter No. 2657/BYT-ATTP to ministries, branches and People's Committees of localities, requesting to strengthen the management and prevention of fake and poor quality food. The document is a move to continue the direction from the Prime Minister in Official Dispatch No. 41/CD-TTg dated April 17, 2025 on strictly handling the acts of producing and trading counterfeit goods such as medicine and health protection foods.
To more closely control the field of functional foods, the Ministry of Health is currently coordinating with relevant ministries and branches to advise the Government to amend and supplement Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP. The draft amendment aims to improve product quality, increase the effectiveness of state management and protect public health against the complicated situation of fake, poor quality food.
