Vietnam province urges residents to stop using pork products from scandal-plagued well-established food processing firm

The Lao Cai Department of Health on Monday issued an urgent directive calling for an immediate review and inspection of food businesses, eaterie, and street food vendors that may be using pork products supplied by the Hai Phong-based company.

According to the department, Ha Long Canned Food Company, also known as Halong Canfoco, manufactures a wide range of canned food products that are widely distributed on the market and may be consumed directly or used as ingredients by food service establishments.

If not promptly controlled, the potential food safety risks could pose a direct threat to public health.

To prevent food poisoning and foodborne diseases, the health department asked commune-level authorities to strengthen public communication on food safety regulations and guide residents on selecting and using safe food products.

People were strongly advised to temporarily stop consuming Halong Canfoco pork products until an official conclusion is released by local authorities.

Residents who have already consumed the products and show any unusual health symptoms are urged to seek medical attention immediately.

The department also requested local authorities to coordinate with regional medical centers to form interdisciplinary inspection teams to review food retailers, packaged food sellers, restaurants, and street food vendors.

If related products are found, inspectors must require their recall and prohibit further circulation or use as food ingredients until official conclusions are issued, while strictly handling deliberate violations in accordance with the law.

Heightened inspections in Hai Phong

In a related development, the inter-agency food safety steering committee of Hai Phong, a port city in northern Vietnam, has issued a directive requiring departments and localities to step up coordination, inspection, and supervision of food safety citywide.

The move follows revelations that Halong Canfoco allegedly used pork infected with African swine fever as raw material for canned food production.

The city has ordered the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Department of Industry and Trade, and the Department of Health to intensify joint inspections, focusing on slaughterhouses, meat processors, and businesses trading in meat and meat products.

Special attention will be paid to the early detection of food safety risks, particularly products potentially contaminated with the African swine fever virus.

During the peak period ahead of the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, inspection teams will increase sampling and laboratory testing of meat and meat products to protect consumers’ health.

The Hai Phong Department of Industry and Trade has also asked supermarkets and commercial establishments to proactively review legal documentation, origin, and quality records of products on sale, and to comply with any official product suspension or recall notices.

Major food safety scandal

On September 8 last year, Hai Phong police discovered two trucks transporting 1,274.5 kilograms of pork of unknown origin that showed signs of spoilage and later tested positive for African swine fever.

Subsequent searches led authorities to seal four cold storage warehouses containing over 130 metric tons of frozen pork linked to Halong Canfoco, all of which were later destroyed.

On September 12, investigators launched criminal proceedings for violations of food safety regulations.

On December 24 the same year, investigators issued decisions to prosecute nine suspects for supplying and trading food originating from dead or sick pigs infected with African swine fever.

By January 10, the company’s CEO Truong Sy Toan and three quality control employees were arrested for their alleged roles in managing, storing, and using diseased pork in production. 

The company annouced the cessation of its production in Hai Phong following this arrest.

Founded in 1957 in Hai Phong under its original name ‘Halong Canned Food Factory,’ Halong Canfoco was once a pioneer and leading enterprise in Vietnam’s processed food industry.

According to information published on its website, after nearly 70 years of operation, the company has developed an ecosystem consisting of three factories and three offices supporting its manufacturing and business activities.