Coca-Cola Vietnam to face fine following inspection

Following an inspection last month, Coca-Cola Vietnam are to face a hefty US$19,300 fine from the Vietnamese health ministry for contravening food safety expectations.

Further to this, the multinational company was forced to recall a batch of Samurai, its energy drink range after it was found to contain less folic acid (vitamin B9) than indicated on the label.

The primary breach of regulation as found by the inspection last month was that Coca-Cola were making 13 products considered “food supplements”. While the company has been subsequently granted the necessary licenses to produce and sell these products by the Vietnamese Food Safety Administration, on June 23 they ordered Coca-Cola to suspend the production and sale of products, such as milk drink Minute Maid Nutriboost, carbonated energy drink Samurai, Minute Maid Teppy Orange Drink, sports drink Aquarius, bottled water Dasani, and Minute Maid Splash Smooth.

The fine was issued as the now granted licences do not have a retroactive effect hence the production and sale of those products remains illegal until they have passed the necessary quality tests according to Dang Van Chinh, chief inspector at the Ministry of Health as quoted on news website Tuoi Tre.

This follows Philippine beverage firm URC’s $260,000 fine earlier this year for producing and selling products in Vietnam with a high lead content.

The ministry has also proposed to inspect two further major beverage companies, Wonderfarm and Pepsi Vietnam, this year in what appears to be a crackdown on food quality standards in Vietnam.