Local police on Thursday busted six mung bean production facilities in Buon Ma Thuot and discovered 20 tons containing the 6-Benzylaminopurine substance, which is known to cause serious health effects.
They arrested four people for investigation.
The producers this year have sold at least 2,900 tons of mung bean sprouts containing the banned substance, the police said.
One of the facilities, Lam Dao Trade, provided 350-400 kilograms a day to Bach Hoa Xanh’s outlets in Buon Ma Thuot.
The retail chain, operated by electronics retailer Mobile World Group, said Thursday that it only sourced the mung bean sprouts in question for its Buon Ma Thuot location, which accounted for 2% of the chain’s total bean sprout supply.
It has recalled all products provided by the company and has begun a process to re-examine all mung bean sprouts that it sells.
Bach Hoa Xanh added that all products sold by the chain have been granted licenses, including food safety certificates, by relevant authorities.
The Plant Protection Department said that although 6-Benzylaminopurine is not banned from plant protection usage to destroy insects, it cannot be used for food that will be consumed directly, and misuses are punishable.
Nguyen Duy Thinh, a professor with the Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said that the 6-Benzylaminopurine is a stimulant that promotes cell division, branching, sprouting, and flowering.
“As a growth stimulant, it is strictly prohibited for use on food or humans, including topical application,” he said.
When ingested, the substance poses severe health risks, including birth defects in pregnant women and developmental harm to children.
Prolonged inhalation or skin exposure can result in low birth weight and hydrocephalus in infants, while high doses can be fatal.
Although it does not cause acute poisoning with immediate neurological symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, or vomiting, 6-Benzylaminopurine’s long-term effects are insidious.
It infiltrates reproductive organs and mature cells, gradually deteriorating health and causing disease over time.
Many cases of 6-Benzylaminopurine misuse to produce “fast-grown” bean sprouts have been discovered by authorities.
In October, two bean sprout production facilities in Quang Ngai Province in the central region were investigated for using the substance to accelerate growth.
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