Important testimony of the group of subjects selling nearly 3,000 tons of bean sprouts infused with banned substances

(NLDO) – Dao started importing goods for Bach Hoa Xanh from May 2024 until the time he was arrested by the police.

On December 29, Dak Lak Provincial Police said they were expanding the investigation into the case of nearly 3,000 tons of bean sprouts infused with the active ingredient 6-Benzylaminopurine sold on the market.

A bean sprout production facility incubated with banned substances

At the police station, the four subjects, owners of six bean sprout production facilities, confessed that although they knew the active ingredient 6-Benzylaminopurine was a harmful substance, they still used it to incubate bean sprouts for profit and market demand.

Subject Lam Van Dao (34 years old - owner of Lam Dao Trading Company Limited) confessed that the facility started making bean sprouts in 2020 and often went on social networks to discuss business with people in the same profession.

Dao admitted that when he started his career, he learned from his predecessors how to use "candy water" (6-Benzylaminopurine) to incubate bean sprouts, even though he knew this substance was not good for the health of the user.

Subject Lam Van Dao at the police station

Dao also confessed to buying this "candy water" from a person in Ho Chi Minh City. This is called a root killer to make the bean sprouts have fewer roots and a plump stem. Dao used "candy water" because of market competition.

Dao started importing goods for Bach Hoa Xanh from May 2024 until the time he was arrested by the police. To get the bean sprouts into the store, Dao printed packaging, labels, and expiration dates and packaged them for shipping to Bach Hoa Xanh. On the bean sprout packaging, Dao stuck labels such as "For everyone's health", "No chemicals", "No stimulants", "No preservatives".

"When Bach Hoa Xanh orders a little, I will give a little, but when they order a lot, I will give a lot. Every day, I sell more than 300kg of bean sprouts to Bach Hoa Xanh" - Dao told the police and said that both of his bean sprout production facilities use "candy water" for soaking and incubation.

Police prosecuted 4 subjects for producing bean sprouts with banned substances

Vu Duy Tu (33 years old, living in Tan Hoa ward, Buon Ma Thuot city) confessed that when he first started making bean sprouts, someone instructed him on how to buy "candy water" and tools to make them.

When he became more proficient, Tu went online and ordered "candy water" in Ho Chi Minh City, 2-5 boxes at a time to use gradually.

"I know that using this substance to make bean sprouts will affect other people's health, but it depends on the broker's requirements. Every day, my factory produces about 2.2 tons of bean sprouts to sell to the wholesale market. I know my actions are wrong and hope for leniency from the law," Tu said.

As reported by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, the Economic Police Department - Dak Lak Provincial Police has just prosecuted 4 subjects who are owners of 6 bean sprout production facilities in Buon Ma Thuot City for violating food safety regulations.

Previously, the Economic Police Department - Dak Lak Provincial Police discovered and seized 20,357 kg of bean sprouts that the group had soaked in the active ingredient 6-Benzylaminopurine. In addition, the police seized 37 plastic cans with 135 liters of the above banned active ingredient. If not discovered, with 135 liters of this solution, the subjects would have produced and put on the market about 675 tons of finished bean sprouts with a selling price of about 18.7 billion VND.

At the police station, the subjects confessed that on average each year they sold about 2,900 tons of bean sprouts incubated with the chemical 6-Benzylaminopurine.

The active ingredient 6-Benzylaminopurine is not on the list of permitted use in food production and the list of permitted pesticides in Vietnam. This is a cell growth stimulant, if introduced into the body it will have adverse effects on human health. Inhalation or long-term skin contact can cause low birth weight, hydrocephalus and birth defects, and ingestion of large amounts can cause death.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/loi-khai-quan-trong-cua-nhom-doi-tuong-ban-gan-3000-tan-gia-do-u-chat-cam-196241229111405898.htm