3 stores of pork seller C.P. Vietnam fined $4,000 for food safety lapses

The CP Fresh Shop stores in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang either had expired food safety certificates or lacked training certificates for staff, according to inspectors from the Department of Agriculture and Environment.

Authorities have shut down the stores pending fulfillment of the paperwork requirements.

An official examines C.P. Vietnam products at a store in Soc Trang, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Photo by An Minh

Last month a former employee of C.P. Vietnam, Lieu Quy Ngan, took to Facebook and accused the company of ordering its employees to sell diseased pork and chicken, and even uploaded images purporting to be evidence.

Ngan, nick Jonny Lieu, said he worked for the company as a salesperson since 2022 and had reported the diseased meat issue to his managers but was ignored and transferred to another position before being sacked at the end of last month.

C.P. Vietnam has issued a statement refuting the claims, calling them "false and fabricated to defame the company."

It claimed further that it adheres to strict quality control processes and is working with authorities to address the matter, and urged the public to "consider the accusation critically."

Police are working with Ngan to verify the accusation.

C.P., a subsidiary of Thai food giant Charoen Pokphand Group, set up shop in Vietnam in 1993. It has numerous plants and farms across the country specializing in poultry, pork, eggs, seafood, and processed products. Its popular products include sausages, pre-marinated chicken and convenience foods.