Strictly handle establishments producing and trading bean sprouts containing prohibited substances.

Bean sprouts are a refreshing, nutritious food that can be made into many delicious dishes. This type of food is often used in the daily meals of many families. However, the use of banned substances in some establishments to make bean sprouts is very dangerous to the health of consumers.

Bean sprouts are a refreshing, nutritious food that can be made into many delicious dishes. This type of food is often used in the daily meals of many families. However, the use of banned substances in some establishments to make bean sprouts is very dangerous to the health of consumers.

From the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Quality Management has drastically implemented the work of monitoring the production and trading of bean sprouts in the whole province; coordinating with localities to collect the entire list of business and production households, conduct supervision at the market, collect information to trace the origin of bean sprouts production in and outside the province.

In March and April this year, the Monitoring Team established by the Department of Agriculture and Environment monitored 19 establishments producing and trading bean sprouts on the implementation of legal regulations on food safety; took 12 samples of bean sprouts for quantitative testing, analyzed food safety indicators including the chemicals Cadmium (Cd) and 6-benzylaminopurine. As a result, 8/12 product samples (8 establishments) did not detect the indicators specified for analysis; 4/12 product samples (of 4 establishments) detected 6-benzylaminopurine. Of which, 2 establishments at Pho Cao market, Tran Cao town (Phu Cu) had products imported from Hai Duong province; 1 establishment at Hien Nam market, Hien Nam ward (Hung Yen city) had products imported from Hanoi city; 1 self-production facility in Dong Tao Nam village, Dong Tao commune (Khoai Chau).

At the time of monitoring, the delegation recorded that the bean sprout production batch of Nguyen Van Nam's bean sprout production facility in Dong Tao Nam village, Dong Tao commune (Khoai Chau) was 400kg. The test results detected 6-benzylaminopurine in the bean sprouts of this facility with a content of 0.017mg/kg of bean sprouts. After the analysis results, the delegation notified the People's Committees of Phu Cu district, Khoai Chau district, Hung Yen city, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hai Duong province and Hanoi city about the facility showing signs of violations. Thereby, it is requested that relevant agencies, units, organizations and individuals take measures to review, manage, trace the origin and handle the facility with violating samples according to regulations.

Previously, in December 2024, the bean sprout production facility of Nguyen Van Dat, residing in Yen Lich village, Dan Tien commune (Khoai Chau) was discovered to be using a banned substance (6-benzyl aminopurine) in food production (bean sprouts). The chemical used is called 6-benzylaminopurine, which is a growth stimulant that can make plants branch and sprout, increase the ability to flower and fruit size. However, according to current regulations, this substance is banned from use in food as well as in pesticides in Vietnam. The 6-benzylaminopurine solution can cause acute poisoning, harming human health.

As someone who has spent decades making bean sprouts for sale at Pho Hien market ( Hung Yen city), Ms. Luong Thi Nhung said, “My family only makes 3-5 kg ​​of beans every day. It takes 5 days from soaking to when the bean sprouts mature. The form of bean sprouts that do not use chemicals is not thick, has roots, is opaque white, the stems are naturally curved, and the bean sprouts are uneven. With the naked eye, people can distinguish between naturally made bean sprouts and bean sprouts soaked in chemicals.

Ms. Luong Thi Nhung specializes in producing and trading bean sprouts at Pho Hien market (Hung Yen city)
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Buyers should be cautious with bean sprouts with large, fat, straight, shiny white stems, no roots, or very short roots to buy safe food. According to experts, clean bean sprouts get their own nutrients, do not contain stimulants, so they are thin, have thin stems, develop unevenly, and have brown roots. The roots are about 3-7cm long, have a lot of hairs, the cotyledons are small, light green, and often stick to the bean pods.

On the contrary, bean sprouts soaked in chemicals are often more "eye-catching", big, round, plump, regular, not bent due to the use of growth stimulants. This type has short roots, pure white, pale white stems, looks unnatural, and succulent. When eaten, bean sprouts soaked in chemicals are often spongy, dry, not fragrant, even have a pungent smell, have little natural bean smell, are not sweet, and release a lot of water when processed. Bean sprouts soaked in chemicals can be left outside for many days, at room temperature, without worrying about spoiling. Clean bean sprouts spoil faster after 1-2 days left outside. When stir-fried, bean sprouts have a more fragrant, sweet, and fresh smell.

Four establishments were found to have bean sprouts containing the banned substance 6-benzylaminopurine, including: Nguyen Thi Van - (Muoi) establishment, operating at Hien Nam market, Hien Nam ward (Hung Yen); Nguyen Van Nam's bean sprout production establishment in Dong Tao Nam village, Dong Tao commune (Khoai Chau); Nguyen Thi Net and Nguyen Thi Mo establishments, both operating at Pho Cao market, Tran Cao town (Phu Cu).

Dao Doan

Source: https://baohungyen.vn/nghiem-khac-xu-ly-co-so-san-xuat-kinh-doanh-gia-do-co-chat-cam-3181434.html