A damaged reputation

A damaged reputation

Phuong Thao

With C2 green tea and Rong Do (Red Dragon) energy drink banned from the store shelves over higher-than-allowed lead content, consumers must be worrying about their health at the moment. The two popular beverages have been available on the market for years on end and favored by youngsters and children. Many customers are facing the possibility of lead poisoning. Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful to human health even at low levels of exposure since it can bioaccumulate in the body of the consumer over time.

The accusing finger is being pointed to the Vietnam unit of the Filipino food and beverage firm Universal Robina Corporation (URC) for defying the law and exposing thousands of consumers to lead poisoning risk. Rumors about higher-than-permitted levels of lead in C2 and Rong Do drinks have begun circulating since early last month. Therefore, the Vietnam Food Administration collected samples of two Philippine beverage brands to test for lead.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health announced to impose a fine of more than VND5.8 billion (US$260,000) on URC for producing and selling lead-contaminated products. According to the ministry, a batch of C2 green tea manufactured on February 4, 2016 and a batch of Rong Do energy drink made on November 10, 2015 were found to contain high levels of lead. Test results showed these batches have lead content of 0.053 to 0.085 mg per liter, above the limit of 0.05 mg per liter.

Earlier this month, the company was ordered to recall the two batches but it was too late as some 800,000 bottles, a majority of the total in the batches worth a combined VND3.9 billion, had already been sold. Many consumers have vented their anger on the firm, calling URC a criminal for having intoxicated them. Doctor Ngo Ha is quoted by Nguoi Tieu Dung newspaper as saying the total volume of lead in 800,000 bottles of C2 and Rong Do drinks amounts to around 30 kg, which is enough to cause blood deficiency for three million people and serious health problems for two million expectant mothers.

The scandal has drawn more fire from the public and media as URC has committed other violations. As reported by Thanh Nien newspaper, two of the company’s warehouses failed to meet food safety regulations, with spoilt products stored next to those for sale.

The Ministry of Health chose to stand by its own findings on the quality of the company’s bestselling products despite various conflicting results released by other local labs. On social media the Philippine producer is accused of having bribed quality control officers into falsifying test results, and journalists from multiple news outlets into ignoring the company’s serious violations. There are reports that three other sold batches contained high levels of lead also but the ministry is still determining the exact number of contaminated bottles. They are being recalled but no fines have been imposed.

Nguyen Manh Hung, vice president of the Vietnam Standard and Consumers Association, says in Tuoi Tre newspaper that buyers of lead-tainted C2 and Rong Do must be compensated. According to health experts, an excessive intake of lead could cause health problems, especially among children and pregnant women. Lead poisoning is a serious and fatal condition with symptoms including severe abdominal pain, stomach cramping, vomiting, muscle weakness, seizure, comatose, confusion, loss of appetite, fatigue, headache, anemia and kidney dysfunction.

Lawyer Pham Huong Giang in Hanoi says on the news site Vietnamnet that consumers had questioned the quality of C2 and Rong Do drinks they had consumed before the scandal made headlines. URC might have marketed a larger volume of lead-contaminated drinks than the 1,200 cartons, weighing over 10 tons, which have been destroyed with the witness of Ministry of Health inspectors.

Consumers can sue URC but it might be difficult to prove any immediate health problems caused by its contaminated beverages. In addition, URC’s business partners, sales agents and suppliers canfile legal action against the firm for making substandard products and thus affecting their business operations and revenues.

Following an inspection into URC Hanoi, Ministry of Health inspectors will carry out similar inspections into URC Vietnam. Other major beverages producers might be next on the ministry’s inspection list.

The lead contamination scandal has damaged the reputation of the company and consumers will surely shun its products altogether. This is the price it must pay.


source by:"www.talkvietnam.com"