Take samples of C2 and Red Dragon water nationwide for testing

Due to inconsistent test results of C2 soft drinks and Red Dragon energy drinks, the Ministry of Health has just requested to take samples of these products nationwide for testing.

Accordingly, sampling in the Northern region will be assigned to the Department of Food Safety and the Institute of Nutrition; the Central region will be handled by the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute; and the Southern region will be sampled by the Ho Chi Minh City Public Health Institute. During the sampling and testing process, if any unusual problems related to the product are detected, the Ministry of Health will immediately handle them according to regulations.

Recently, the Hanoi Food Safety Department also took 5 samples of C2 water and 5 samples of Red Dragon water for testing, the results showed that the lead content was within the prescribed limits.

Previously, social networks appeared with test results of C2 and Red Dragon water, which were found to be contaminated with lead exceeding the permitted threshold. According to Ms. Nguyen Thien Huong, communications manager of URC Vietnam Company (manufacturer of C2 soft drinks and Red Dragon energy drinks), there were inconsistencies in test results from many different testing units.

Specifically, in early January, samples of C2 green tea and Red Dragon energy drink sent to the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene Control (NICF) detected lead, while samples sent to the Technical Center for Standards and Quality Measurement 3 under the General Department of Standards and Quality Measurement did not detect lead. URC proactively sent comparison samples and raw materials (taken from the same batch and different batches from the NICF sample tested for lead) to many other quality measurement and testing centers, but lead was not detected.

These inconsistent test results also raised the suspicion that URC "gave money" to two individuals of the Institute to change the test results. According to the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene Control, the two individuals of the Institute affirmed that they did not receive bribes. The Ministry of Health Inspectorate is coordinating with the agency to clarify the matter. The Ministry of Health also requested to speed up the inspection of URC Company's operations.

According to VNE