Vietnam's Halong Canfoco Scandal: Diseased Pork, Arrests and Withdrawals Shake a Legacy Food Brand

130 Tons of Pork Put a Household Name Under Scrutiny

Vietnam's Halong Canfoco faces a widening food safety investigation after police found approximately 130 metric tons of frozen pork infected with African swine fever in its warehouses in Hai Phong. Investigators say about two metric tons of infected pork had already been processed into canned products, including pâté. The company maintains that the affected batch was neither used nor supplied to the market.

By January 14, 2026, chief executive Truong Sy Toan and three employees responsible for quality controls had been detained, nine suppliers and associates faced prosecution, and major supermarket chains had removed products. Coffee chains also stopped using ingredients supplied by the company, extending the commercial damage beyond its pork products.

Lao Cai Province issued an urgent directive on January 13 urging residents to temporarily stop consuming all pork products manufactured by Ha Long Canned Food JSC, known as Halong Canfoco. Its Department of Health warned that uncontrolled food safety risks could pose "a direct threat to public health." Officials were told to check retailers, eateries and street food vendors, while consumers experiencing unusual symptoms after eating the products were advised to seek medical attention.

The case involves two different health concerns. African swine fever, or ASF, is a highly contagious viral disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, not humans. Salmonella, which investigators also detected in stored pork and chicken skin, is a bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal illness in people. Authorities found signs of spoiled meat as well as positive laboratory results, making the investigation about the handling and sourcing of food as much as the pig disease itself.

How a Traffic Stop Led to the Warehouses

Hai Phong's Economic Police Division intercepted two trucks on September 8, 2025. The vehicles, bearing license plates 15C-298.81 and 34C-317.36, carried a combined 1,274.5 kilograms of pork. One contained 790 kilograms of butchered lean pork; the other held 484.5 kilograms of discolored pork scraps with a foul smell.

The drivers, Le Ba Doanh and Trinh Ha Viet, could not produce documents showing the meat's origin or certificates confirming inspection for transport. Tests on the seized pork were positive for African swine fever.

Investigators traced the meat to Bui Duc Trong, a supplier in Ngo Quyen District who bought pork from the drivers and supplied Halong Canfoco. That connection led police to search the company's storage facilities.

Four cold storage locations, identified as 7A, 7B, 7D and 8H/215 Le Lai, contained approximately 130 metric tons of frozen pork. Police found meat leaking fluid and giving off foul odors, conditions that failed basic food safety and hygiene requirements. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the ASF virus.

Production records brought the inquiry into the factory itself. On September 6 and 7, just before the truck interception, the company had manufactured more than 1.7 metric tons of finished pâté, equivalent to around 14,000 cans, using contaminated ingredients, according to the investigation. Police described approximately two metric tons of infected pork being processed into canned meat products, specifically pâté. The two quantities refer to the raw meat used and the finished pâté produced.

The discovery turned a transport inspection into an investigation spanning suppliers, warehouse storage, manufacturing and the employees responsible for approving incoming ingredients.

What the Laboratory Tests Found

Processed products beyond canned pâté also tested positive for African swine fever. Investigators identified more than 4,000 kilograms of crispy spring rolls and more than 3,000 kilograms of premium spring rolls containing the virus.

Laboratory analysis found Salmonella in more than 13,000 kilograms of frozen pork skin and more than 8,000 kilograms of frozen chicken skin. These findings added a concern involving bacteria that can make humans ill to the investigation of infected pork.

Authorities collected 260 samples between September 18 and 29 for forensic testing. Of 122 samples tested for ASF, 65 were positive. Eight of 115 microbial tests exceeded permitted limits for Salmonella spp., the term used for bacteria belonging to the Salmonella group.

None of the plant or seafood samples showed contamination. The positive findings were concentrated in meat products and their handling, although retailers and business customers later withdrew a wider range of Halong Canfoco goods.

ASF infection is a serious animal health problem because the virus spreads among pigs. In this case, the infected meat also showed signs of spoilage, and investigators alleged that pork from sick or dead pigs had entered the supply chain. Vietnamese law requires diseased pork of this kind to be destroyed.

All contaminated meat and related products identified in the case were destroyed in November 2025. The criminal investigation continued afterward to determine responsibility for purchasing, storing and processing the material.

Suppliers, Alleged False Papers and Arrests

Investigators traced infected pork to suppliers in Hung Yen Province, which borders Hai Phong. Nguyen Thi Lan, a resident of Dong Hung commune in Hung Yen and a key link in the supply chain, said the operation had been running for approximately six months before its discovery.

Lan admitted buying diseased pigs directly from local farms and reselling them to major middlemen. She said she did not know the pork's final destination until news of the warehouse search emerged.

Suppliers allegedly falsified quarantine documents to bypass compulsory inspections. Those documents helped pork that should have been destroyed enter a commercial food supply chain. The operation involved more than 120 tons of meat and continued for months, placing scrutiny on both supplier checks and inspection procedures.

Police issued decisions on December 24, 2025, to prosecute nine suspects for supplying and trading food originating from dead or sick pigs infected with ASF. They included Bui Duc Trong and eight associates.

On January 10, 2026, police took Truong Sy Toan, 57, Halong Canfoco's chief executive, into emergency custody. Investigators said he was directly involved in management and operational decisions connected with collecting and storing pork that failed food safety requirements at the company's cold warehouses.

Three Quality Management Department employees were detained the same day: Pham Thi Thuy Lan, 46, the department's deputy head; Bui Thi Thoan, 47, responsible for inspecting raw material quality; and Lai Thi Thanh Huong, 52, an input materials officer. Their responsibilities included evaluating pork before it was approved for storage and processing.

The Investigation Agency of the Hai Phong City Police said it was continuing to clarify the responsibilities of individuals and organizations involved. The arrests followed four months of investigation and extended the inquiry from external suppliers to company management and quality controls.

The Investigation's Main Dates

The events unfolded over several months, with the pork seizures and laboratory work preceding the public warnings and senior management arrests. The main dates are:

• September 6 and 7, 2025: Production records showed more than 1.7 metric tons of finished pâté, around 14,000 cans, manufactured using contaminated ingredients.
• September 8, 2025: Hai Phong police intercepted two trucks carrying 1,274.5 kilograms of pork, beginning the investigation that led to Halong Canfoco's warehouses.
• September 18 to 29, 2025: Authorities collected 260 samples for forensic testing.
• November 2025: Contaminated meat and related products were destroyed.
• December 24, 2025: Investigators issued decisions to prosecute nine suspects connected with supplying and trading infected pork.
• January 10, 2026: Chief executive Truong Sy Toan and three quality management employees were detained.
• January 13, 2026: Lao Cai issued its urgent warning against consuming Halong Canfoco pork products.

As of January 14, the investigation remained active. The company's board had announced a factory suspension lasting 14 days, but no date for a final investigative conclusion was given.

Local Authorities Order Checks and Recalls

Lao Cai's Department of Health instructed local authorities to work with regional medical centers to establish inspection teams drawn from several agencies. Their task was to review food retailers, sellers of packaged foods, restaurants and street food vendors for Halong Canfoco products.

Inspectors finding products covered by the directive were required to order their recall and prevent further circulation or use as ingredients until official conclusions were issued. The department also called for strict legal action against deliberate violations.

Hai Phong's food safety steering committee instructed departments and local authorities to increase coordination, inspection and supervision across the city. The Department of Agriculture and Environment, Department of Industry and Trade, and Department of Health were directed to conduct joint checks focused on slaughterhouses, meat processors and businesses selling meat and meat products.

Inspection teams were to prioritize early identification of food safety risks, particularly possible ASF contamination. With the 2026 Lunar New Year approaching, a period of high food consumption, officials planned more sampling and laboratory testing of meat products.

Hai Phong's Department of Industry and Trade also asked supermarkets and other commercial establishments to review products' legal paperwork, origin documents and quality records. Businesses were instructed to comply with official suspension and recall notices.

The local measures combined checks on what was already on sale with closer scrutiny of the businesses handling meat before it reached consumers. Lao Cai's advice also gave residents a direct response: stop consuming the covered pork products temporarily and seek medical help for unusual symptoms after consumption.

Supermarkets and Coffee Chains Pull Products

GO!, MM Mega Market, WinMart, Lotte Mart and Saigon Co.op removed Halong Canfoco products from their shelves. A spokesperson for Central Retail, which owns GO! and Tops Market, confirmed that both chains had stopped displaying the company's pork products while awaiting instructions from authorities.

Bach Hoa Xanh introduced customer support policies allowing returns and exchanges for any Halong Canfoco products. Kingfood Mart said it had removed 100 percent of the company's products and was coordinating with the supplier to return inventory it had already received.

Several online shopping platforms removed the company's products from their listings. Some small supermarkets and convenience stores continued selling them, apparently because they were unaware of developments or waiting for distributors' guidance.

The Coffee House suspended its Fujian lotus lychee tea and lychee Americano because they used ingredients supplied by Halong Canfoco. Phuc Long Heritage JSC announced that it had stopped sourcing lychee ingredients from the company.

Highlands Coffee confirmed that it had completely stopped using all ingredients from Halong Canfoco. Those included canned lotus seeds and lychees previously used in its golden lotus tea and lychee jelly tea. These withdrawals widened the business disruption to ingredients outside the meat categories in which testing had found contamination.

Company financial records show the scale of some commercial relationships. As of June 30, 2025, short term receivables from Highland Coffee Services JSC Branch exceeded VND 3.06 billion, approximately $117,000. Receivables from Wincommerce were more than VND 7.07 billion, approximately $270,000. Receivables are sums customers owe a business for goods or services already supplied.

The suspension of sales and ingredient purchases disrupted both Halong Canfoco's distribution network and its revenue channels. Its customers ranged from supermarkets selling branded cans to beverage chains using other products as ingredients.

Consumers Describe Lost Trust

Halong Canfoco's Cot Den, or Lighthouse, pâté had been a familiar presence on breakfast tables and restaurant menus for generations. Some regular buyers responded to the investigation by discarding products they already had at home.

Loan, a regular buyer of Halong Canfoco canned foods in Ho Chi Minh City, described her concern about the ingredients in products she had eaten.

"After reading the news, I was shocked and do not know what kind of meat was used to process the products I have consumed," said Loan.

Hoa, another resident, said she threw away cans of the company's pâté because she "did not know if they were made from safe ingredients." In Hanoi, Chau discarded four cans and said she could not believe "a branded company whose products are sold in reputable supermarkets allowed diseased meat to slip through."

The reactions reflected the reputation Halong Canfoco had built through nearly seven decades of trading. Consumers had associated its established name and supermarket presence with dependable products. The discovery of infected and spoiled meat inside its facilities challenged that confidence.

A Long History and Weaker Finances

Halong Canfoco was established in Hai Phong in 1957 as the Halong Canned Food Factory. It operated for decades as a state owned enterprise before becoming a joint stock company, a business whose ownership is divided into shares. It developed into a pioneer and leading enterprise in Vietnam's processed food industry.

The business expanded to three factories and three offices supporting manufacturing and commercial activities nationwide. Its products included canned pork, fish products, sausages and spring rolls alongside its signature pâté.

Financial reports described sales through General Trade (GT), Modern Trade (MT), Café and E-commerce channels. These cover traditional retail, modern retail networks, café customers and online sales. The company also opened Pate Cot Den Bread shops in Ho Chi Minh City and launched a chain of 10 nem, or Vietnamese sausage, stores in Hanoi.

Financial difficulties preceded the scandal. In 2024, net revenue was VND 681.8 billion, approximately $26 million, down nearly VND 60 billion from the previous year and well below the company's targets. Profit before tax was VND 3.15 billion, a decline of VND 13.62 billion from 2023.

Demand for canned food increased in the second half of 2024 because of Storm No. 3, Yagi. Management nevertheless acknowledged in the annual report that the company's performance fell short of its plans.

"However, due to less than optimal management, the company's business results for 2024 did not meet our revenue and profit targets," the leadership of Halong Canfoco acknowledged in their report.

For 2025, the company set a consolidated revenue target of nearly VND 703.6 billion and sought a 230 percent increase in profit before tax. The recalls, withdrawals and disruption to customer relationships added pressure to a business already struggling to meet its financial goals.

The Company's Response and Factory Suspension

Halong Canfoco described the matter in statements to the Hanoi Stock Exchange as a "serious incident in the supply chain" with "an impact on its reputation and short-term production." It maintained that the diseased batch had not been used or supplied to the market. Police, meanwhile, identified production records showing contaminated ingredients used to make pâté.

The company said it received raw materials from sellers and relied on documents supplied as legally valid. It stated that the nine suspects facing prosecution were external suppliers rather than employees, and that it had checked apparently legitimate paperwork before purchasing the meat.

Investigators described the company's "passive role" in the transaction chain in connection with its reliance on supplier documents. The later detention of its chief executive and quality management employees brought internal purchasing, storage and approval decisions into the continuing inquiry.

Halong Canfoco said products currently circulating in the market met food safety regulations and held international certifications. It also announced a review of controls on incoming materials and supplier selection to strengthen prevention of similar risks.

The board of directors suspended operations at the Hai Phong canned food factory for 14 days and appointed Cao Nhat Huy, deputy production director, to oversee operations during the suspension. The company nevertheless maintained that production and business activities were continuing normally without major disruption.

The factory suspension concerned one manufacturing site within a business operating three factories. Its wider commercial problems included the removal of products from retail shelves and the loss of ingredient orders from prominent food and beverage customers.

What Certification Means for Food Safety

Halong Canfoco cited its factory's ISO 22000:2018 certification, an international standard for managing food safety. The system incorporates Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), traceability and continual improvement. HACCP is a method for identifying food hazards and controlling the stages of production where those hazards can be prevented or reduced.

Traceability means being able to follow ingredients through the supply chain. In this investigation, that work connected the intercepted trucks with a middleman, the company's warehouses and suppliers in Hung Yen.

Do Duy Thanh, chief executive of consultancy FnB Director and founder of Horeca Business School, said the company's long history, extensive market presence and compliance with industry requirements helped explain why food and beverage businesses had chosen it as a supplier.

"The use of Halong Canfoco products by F&B chains cannot be described as careless," said Do Duy Thanh.

Thanh also acknowledged that high standards could not completely remove risks, particularly in large businesses. Certification involves established food safety processes, while daily safety depends on employees carrying them out and suppliers providing honest information.

Vietnam has faced recurring ASF problems since the disease was first detected in the country in 2019. It has devastated pig populations across Asia and caused substantial economic losses for farmers. The Halong Canfoco case connects that animal disease challenge with allegations that sick pigs were purchased, paperwork was falsified and meat entered a recognized processor's facilities.

Vietnam's growing population, urbanization and demand for processed and convenience foods have expanded opportunities for food businesses. Companies operating supply networks across different regions must check both the ingredients they receive and the claims made by external suppliers. This case placed those responsibilities under scrutiny at a brand with decades of experience and international certification.

For consumers, the immediate response was product withdrawals and local health warnings. For investigators, the remaining work was to establish individual and organizational responsibility across the chain, from the farms and middlemen to the people who approved storage and processing.

The Bottom Line

• Police found approximately 130 metric tons of frozen pork infected with African swine fever at Halong Canfoco's Hai Phong storage facilities.
• Investigators said about two metric tons of infected pork entered processing; production records identified more than 1.7 metric tons of pâté, around 14,000 cans.
• Testing also found ASF in spring rolls and Salmonella in frozen pork and chicken skin. Plant and seafood samples showed no contamination.
• Chief executive Truong Sy Toan and three quality management employees were detained on January 10, following prosecution decisions against nine suppliers and associates in December.
• Lao Cai warned residents against consuming the company's pork products, while Hai Phong increased food inspections ahead of Lunar New Year.
• Major retailers withdrew products, and The Coffee House, Phuc Long and Highlands Coffee stopped using ingredients supplied by the company.
• Halong Canfoco denied that the diseased batch was used or reached the market, announced reviews of supplier controls and suspended its Hai Phong factory for 14 days.
• The investigation remained ongoing as of January 14, 2026.