Several leading retailers said they had removed all pork-based products made by Ha Long Canned Food Joint Stock Corporation from shelves immediately after learning that nearly 130 tonnes of pork infected with African swine fever had been found in the company’s warehouses.
Haiphong police have charged nine suspects in connection with the transfer of more than 120 tonnes of diseased pork into Ha Long Canned Food. About two tonnes of the meat had already been processed and packaged before the case was uncovered.
According to information published on the company’s website, Ha Long Canned Food lists major retail partners including Lotte Mart, Saigon Co.op, GO!, MM Mega Market, Winmart and Aeon Mall.
Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews on January 8, representatives of several large supermarket chains said they had temporarily removed all pork-based processed products from Ha Long Canned Food pending official conclusions from authorities.
MM Mega Market said it had proactively reviewed and recalled all related products across its system as soon as it received information from regulators. Central Retail, which operates GO! and Tops Market, said it had also suspended sales of the company’s pork products nationwide.
WinCommerce, owner of the Winmart chain, said it had halted sales and begun recalling all products supplied by Ha Long Canned Food across its system from January 8, while urgently requesting clarification from the supplier.
“In cases where a supplier violates contractual obligations, businesses are responsible for working with authorities to protect consumers’ interests,” a WinCommerce representative said.
By midday on January 8, online shopping platforms operated by Bach Hoa Xanh, Lotte Mart, Aeon Mall, Saigon Co.op, MM Mega Market, Emart and Winmart had removed all Ha Long Canned Food products, including Haiphong-style lamp-post pate.
Haiphong police said the nine suspects had been charged with violating food safety regulations. Investigators alleged that more than 1.27 tonnes of slaughtered pork that was rotten-smelling, of unknown origin and tested positive for African swine fever had been transported for sale to pork-processing companies.
As the investigation expanded, authorities carried out urgent searches at Ha Long Canned Food’s headquarters and warehouses, sealing four storage facilities containing nearly 130 tonnes of frozen pork.
Suspects told police they had falsified declarations about the origin of the meat to bypass quarantine requirements, using paperwork from other slaughterhouses to legitimise the goods.
In a statement sent to the Hanoi Stock Exchange on January 8, Ha Long Canned Food said all nine suspects were external individuals and not employees or managers of the company. It said it had received raw materials based on documentation that appeared complete and valid, as issued by competent state agencies, a point authorities had acknowledged during the investigation.
The company said it had reported the case and cooperated with authorities since the issue was discovered in September 2025, and had isolated and destroyed the entire batch of violating raw materials as required. It has also reviewed its input control processes and supplier selection to strengthen risk prevention in its supply chain.
Founded in 1957 in Haiphong as Ha Long Canned Fish Factory, Ha Long Canned Food now operates three factories and is a leading producer of processed foods including canned meat, canned fish and sausages.
Authorities said investigations are continuing to determine further responsibility.
