Bean sprouts are still sold normally at Nghe An traditional markets.

Recently, the Dak Lak Provincial Police Investigation Agency has prosecuted suspects related to thousands of tons of bean sprouts soaked in the banned substance 6-Benzylaminopurine, a "super-speed" stimulant that helps produce bean sprouts quickly and in large quantities.

It is worth noting that this banned substance has a negative impact on human health; ingesting large amounts can cause death; pregnant women who inhale it or have long-term skin contact can cause low birth weight, hydrocephalus and birth defects... The above information has shocked public opinion, making many housewives worried.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai, a housewife in Hung Phuc ward (Vinh city) said: “Bean sprouts can be processed into many dishes: salad, cooked, stir-fried and eaten raw, so they are often present in family meals. The information about bean sprouts containing harmful banned substances is really worrying.”

But according to Ms. Hoai, she often buys bean sprouts from an acquaintance, the seller only incubates a few sprouts, enough to sell for one market session, not mass production, so she is quite assured.

These days, in the traditional markets in Vinh city, consumers are quite cautious in using bean sprouts as food for daily meals. However, there is no situation where consumers “turn their backs” on bean sprouts.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, a trader at Hung Dung market (Vinh city) said: “These past few days, I have been able to sell an average of 2 bean sprouts (equivalent to 10kg) per day. I have been soaking and fermenting these bean sprouts myself in the traditional way, and have been selling them for decades, mainly to regular customers, and have been trusted by everyone. Therefore, I am still selling them normally…”.

At Vinh market - where bean sprouts are sold wholesale to retailers, Ms. Lien, the owner of a bean sprout stall here, said that every day she sells about 500 kg of bean sprouts to the wholesale and retail market. Mainly to restaurants and eateries. She soaks and ferments the bean sprouts herself, not importing them from elsewhere, so they are still sold normally, not affected compared to before, the selling price fluctuates from 14,000-15,000 VND/kg.

However, nowadays, consumers are quite cautious when buying bean sprouts. Accordingly, they often choose sellers who incubate bean sprouts in the traditional way, in earthenware jars or metal barrels of acquaintances; choose bean sprouts that are slightly long and have many roots instead of choosing short, fat, and rootless ones.

“I often buy bean sprouts from people I know and know well, knowing that they grow them themselves. I avoid buying from places that import goods from wholesale markets to resell because I don’t know the origin,” said housewife Nguyen Thi Ai Huong.

Meanwhile, some people, because of health concerns, have fermented bean sprouts at home for use instead of buying them at the market. According to experienced people, soaking bean sprouts is quite simple, the ingredients are easy to buy, and it only takes 5-7 days to have bean sprouts to use.

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How to distinguish clean bean sprouts and chemically soaked bean sprouts:
*) Observe the roots:Traditional bean sprouts take about a week to grow, so they usually have many long roots, with rhizomes and secondary roots growing out. Meanwhile, bean sprouts with growth stimulants have no roots or if they do, the roots are very short.

The reason is that the seller soaks the bean sprouts in water containing chemicals, causing all parts of the bean sprouts to absorb water, resulting in poor root development.
Bean sprout color: Bean sprouts soaked in stimulants will have a pure white color that looks very eye-catching, while regular bean sprouts have a light white or milky color.
*) Observe the shape:Bean sprouts soaked in growth stimulants look fat, plump, and extremely attractive but are brittle and easily broken. Clean bean sprouts look thinner, the sprouts are harder to break, and do not look attractive. Clean bean sprouts have leaves that are open or, when viewed from the outside, have yellow or green sprouts, while bean sprouts soaked in chemicals have two sprouts tightly packed together. Buyers can tell the difference by looking at them.

*) Bean sprout flavor:When eaten, clean bean sprouts have a fresh, cool and sweet taste, the bean sprouts are crispy, dense and juicy. Meanwhile, bean sprouts soaked in chemicals have a spongy, drier body, are not as fragrant and sweet. Even if you smell them closely, you can still feel the chemical smell lingering.