Following media reports of the Ministry of Public Security’s dismantling of a fraudulent milk production and distribution network, and warnings about numerous fake products for patients, Hospital 108 has reviewed its patient milk products.
The review revealed the presence of Hofumil Gold Plus milk, a product manufactured by one of the implicated companies.
“The Hofumil Gold Plus milk product used in the hospital was procured through a tendering process, in compliance with legal regulations,” a hospital representative stated.
Hospital 108 Retires Hofumil Gold Plus Milk Due to Fraudulent Production – 1Hospital 108 is recalling Hofumil Gold Plus milk. (Image: Minh Nhật)
Although no official confirmation from regulatory authorities on the Hofumil Gold Plus milk being fraudulent, the leadership of Hospital 108, as of April 12th, directed its specialist departments to discontinue recommendations for Hofumil Gold Plus milk consumption and initiated a recall procedure to return the product to the supplier.
“The hospital will also work with patients to demand a refund for the product from the supplier, protecting patients’ rights. Simultaneously, the hospital is contacting patients who were advised to use this milk, recommending they stop using it,” the hospital’s leadership stated.
Previously, Dân trí reported that the Ministry of Public Security dismantled a fraudulent production and distribution network involving nearly 600 types of milk products for diabetics, pregnant women, and children.
The Ministry of Public Security’s Criminal Investigation Department filed criminal charges and placed eight individuals under temporary detention for producing and selling fake food products and violating accounting regulations resulting in serious consequences.
From August 2021 to the present, these individuals established Rance Pharma International Joint Stock Company and Hacofood Group Joint Stock Company to manufacture and sell powdered milk.
Besides these two companies, the individuals also engaged in joint ventures and collaborations through shareholding with various other parties to establish nine more companies, aiming to register the products (brand names) and directly market and distribute the products manufactured at Hacofood and Rance Pharma factories.
According to authorities, this network has produced 573 milk powder brands, catering to diabetics, kidney patients, premature babies, and pregnant women.
These brands were advertised and marketed as containing ingredients like bird’s nest extract, winter fungus, maca powder, and walnut powder. However, inspections revealed that the milk produced by the two companies lacked these ingredients, and the quality fell below 70% of the advertised levels, confirming it as fake.
The individuals confessed to omitting certain raw materials and replacing them with and adding certain additives.
Over a four-year period, the authorities estimated the revenue generated from these milk products to be approximately 500 billion Vietnamese Dong.
