3,500 tons of bean sprouts soaked in "candy water": Potential health hazard

Nghe An : In more than 1 year, 4 establishments sold 3,500 tons of bean sprouts soaked in chemicals to the market.

People have not yet recovered from the shock of fake milk and fake medicine, but now the police have announced the discovery of bean sprouts soaked in chemicals. Specifically, according to Nghe An Provincial Police, 4 establishments in Vinh City have used "candy water" to soak and water the bean sprouts to make them big, plump, with short, beautiful roots.

From 2024 until the time of discovery, these 4 facilities had sold about 3,500 tons of finished bean sprouts soaked and watered with "candy water" or 6-Benzylaminopurine.

From 2024 until the time of discovery, 4 establishments in Vinh City, Nghe An had sold 3,500 tons of bean sprouts soaked in chemicals to the market (Photo: Tuan Thuy).

This is not the first time that authorities have discovered bean sprouts soaked in this chemical. At the end of 2024, the Economic Police Department, Dak Lak Provincial Police issued a decision to prosecute and temporarily detain 4 suspects to investigate the crime of violating food safety regulations.

Previously, during a simultaneous inspection of 6 bean sprout production facilities in Buon Ma Thuot City, authorities discovered a colorless liquid containing the active ingredient 6-Benzylaminopurine, which is not on the list of permitted use in food production and the list of pesticides permitted for use in Vietnam for soaking and fermenting bean sprouts.

Late last year, Dak Lak police seized over 20 tons of bean sprouts soaked in chemicals and prepared to be sold on the market, including bean sprouts from Lam Dao facility (Photo: Provided by police).

The subjects mixed chemicals to incubate bean sprouts to shorten the bean sprout roots, concentrate nutrients to develop large, plump bean sprout stems, increase weight and have a beautiful appearance. During the year, this group sold nearly 3,000 tons of bean sprouts soaked in 6-Benzylaminopurine chemicals to the market, an average of 8-10 tons per day.

What is "candy water" and how is it toxic to the body?

According to ScienceDirect , 6-Benzylaminopurine was one of the first synthetic hormones and has been widely used in horticulture, gardening, and agriculture. However, overuse of the chemical has the potential to cause harm to the environment and humans.

An animal study showed that the chemical caused developmental toxicity and behavioral changes in zebrafish. Higher concentrations (30, 40 mg/L) reduced survival and hatching rates of embryos and larvae. In addition, the chemical also caused oxidative stress.

The US Environmental Protection Agency reports that 6-Benzylaminopurine can cause irritation of the eyes, esophageal mucosa, and stomach.

6-Benzylaminopurine is a growth stimulant, permitted for use in agriculture (Illustration: WP).

Although classified as “low toxicity” when used in agricultural environments, exposure to large amounts or uncontrolled residues in food can cause endocrine disruption, liver and kidney damage…

According to scientists, when soaked directly with bean sprouts, the growth stimulant 6-Benzylaminopurine solution will penetrate deep into the stem of the bean sprouts.

6-Benzylaminopurine is only soluble in alkaline solutions, and is poorly soluble in water with neutral or acidic pH. Therefore, finished bean sprouts cannot be completely washed with normal water even after being washed many times. The residual chemical is very high and affects the health of users.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Duy Thinh, former lecturer at the Institute of Biotechnology and Food, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said that 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) or "candy water" is a growth stimulant. This active ingredient is approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for use in agriculture, helping plants grow roots quickly, flower and bear fruit quickly.

Thus, this chemical is used for crops and is not allowed to be used in food.

According to Associate Professor Thinh, because it is a growth stimulant, this chemical is very dangerous when consumed by humans. It disrupts the body's growth and development processes, causing abnormal cell development, especially nerve cells, which adversely affects human health.

"Especially for pregnant women, this chemical can affect the development of the fetus, causing the fetus to develop abnormally, possibly leading to premature birth, hydrocephalus, malformations...", Associate Professor Thinh analyzed.

How to identify clean bean sprouts and bean sprouts incubated with banned substances

Bean sprouts made in the traditional way will not be as white, big, and plump as bean sprouts soaked in chemicals (Illustration: NP).

Associate Professor Thinh added that beans are a type of plant that grows from seeds. When using the chemical 6-Benzylaminopurine, the roots will grow quickly, making the plants plumper and whiter than normal. It is a growth stimulant, so when used to soak bean sprouts, the product will be slightly different from the product made in the traditional way.

Specifically, bean sprouts made in the traditional way will not be plump, the roots will not be long. To the naked eye, these products do not look as beautiful as products using stimulants (fat, greasy, brittle, more fragile). Clean bean sprouts also have a natural yellow color, not the porcelain white color of products soaked in chemicals.

"When shopping, if we see unusual bean sprouts, we should not buy them. Don't blindly buy them just because they look pretty," Associate Professor Thinh said.

In addition, according to the Food Safety Department, Ministry of Health, in addition to the above chemicals, producers can also use foliar fertilizer mixed with root-directed herbicides (to kill the roots without affecting the sprouts) diluted, then watered on bean sprouts and composted. At that time, bean sprouts will be large, white, crispy and have few roots.

When these beans are used in salads or stir-fried, the water that flows out is cloudy.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/vu-3500-tan-gia-do-ngam-nuoc-keo-moi-nguy-tiem-an-voi-suc-khoe-20250420084113308.htm