Sentenced to 2 years in prison for using banned chemicals to soak nearly 2 tons of bean sprouts.
Luu Van Trung knew that the banned substance "candy water" was harmful to consumers' health, but driven by greed, he bought it to soak bean sprouts in order to stimulate their growth, making them thicker, plumper, with shorter roots, and more attractive in appearance, thus maximizing profits.
The People's Court of Nghe An province recently held a first-instance trial to hear the case against defendant Luu Van Trung (born in 1997), residing in Vinh Phu ward, Nghe An province, for the crime of "Violating regulations on food safety".
According to the case file, from April 2024, Trung invested capital with a friend to establish a bean sprout production facility in Vinh Phu ward for sale on the market. Trung was in charge of the production and care of the bean sprouts from start to finish.
Through research on social media, Trung learned that 6-Benzylaminopurine (6-BAP), also known as "candy water," stimulates bean sprout growth, resulting in thicker, fatter sprouts with shorter roots, longer stems, a more attractive appearance, and heavier weight, thus increasing profits. Therefore, Trung contacted a man he met on social media to buy 10 liters of "candy water."
Trung mixed "candy water" into a 1,000-liter water tank, then watered the bean sprout containers with it on the second day and into the third day (a 5-day bean sprout production process). During the bean sprout production process, while there was still "candy water" left, Trung mixed it into well water every day to soak and water the bean sprouts.
Trung's actions were discovered by authorities. During the inspection, authorities found over 1,900 kg of bean sprouts. The liquid Trung used to soak the bean sprouts was not on the list of permitted food additives, nor was it on the list of permitted pesticides.
In court, the defendant confessed that he knew the "candy water" was harmful to consumers' health, but due to greed, he used it to soak bean sprouts for sale on the market. The defendant acknowledged that his actions were wrong and violated the law, expressed remorse and regret, and asked the court to consider mitigating circumstances.
The court determined that the defendant's actions were dangerous to society, directly harming consumer health and causing public alarm, thus requiring strict punishment. However, it was also necessary to consider some mitigating circumstances such as the defendant's sincere confession and remorse.
After considering all aspects of the case, the panel of judges sentenced the defendant Luu Van Trung to 24 months in prison for violating regulations on food safety.
