A DAMAGED REPUTATION

Phuong Thao
Friday, Jun 3,2016,17:21

With C2 green tea and Rong Do (Red Dragon) energy drink banned from the store shelves over
higher-than-allowed lead content, consumers must be worrying about their health at the
moment. The two popular beverages have been available on the market for years on end and
favored by youngsters and children. Many customers are facing the possibility of lead poisoning.
Lead is a toxic metal that is harmful to human health even at low levels of exposure since it can
bio accumulate in the body of the consumer over time.
The accusing finger is being pointed to the Vietnam unit of the Filipino food and beverage firm
Universal Robina Corporation (URC) for defying the law and exposing thousands of consumers to lead
poisoning risk. Rumors about higher-than-permitted levels of lead in C2 and Rong Do drinks have
begun circulating since early last month. Therefore, the Vietnam Food Administration collected samples
of two Philippine beverage brands to test for lead.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health announced to impose a fine of more than VND5.8 billion
(US$260,000) on URC for producing and selling lead-contaminated products. According to the
ministry, a batch of C2 green tea manufactured on February 4, 2016 and a batch of Rong Do energy
drink made on November 10, 2015 were found to contain high levels of lead. Test results showed these
batches have lead content of 0.053 to 0.085 mg per liter, above the limit of 0.05 mg per liter.
Earlier this month, the company was ordered to recall the two batches but it was too late as some
800,000 bottles, a majority of the total in the batches worth a combined VND3.9 billion, had already
been sold. Many consumers have vented their anger on the firm, calling URC a criminal for having
intoxicated them. Doctor Ngo Ha is quoted by Nguoi Tieu Dung newspaper as saying the total volume
of lead in 800,000 bottles of C2 and Rong Do drinks amounts to around 30 kg, which is enough to cause
blood deficiency for three million people and serious health problems for two million expectant mothers.
The scandal has drawn more fire from the public and media as URC has committed other violations. As
reported by Thanh Nien newspaper, two of the companys warehouses failed to meet food safety
regulations, with spoilt products stored next to those for sale.
The Ministry of Health chose to stand by its own findings on the quality of the companys bestselling
products despite various conflicting results released by other local labs. On social media the Philippine
producer is accused of having bribed quality control officers into falsifying test results, and journalists
from multiple news outlets into ignoring the companys serious violations. There are reports that three
other sold batches contained high levels of lead also but the ministry is still determining the exact
number of contaminated bottles. They are being recalled but no fines have been imposed.
Nguyen Manh Hung, vice president of the Vietnam Standard and Consumers Association, says in Tuoi
Tre newspaper that buyers of lead-tainted C2 and Rong Do must be compensated. According to health
experts, an excessive intake of lead could cause health problems, especially among children and
pregnant women. Lead poisoning is a serious and fatal condition with symptoms including severe
abdominal pain, stomach cramping, vomiting, muscle weakness, seizure, comatose, confusion, loss of
appetite, fatigue, headache, anemia and kidney dysfunction.
Lawyer Pham Huong Giang in Hanoi says on the news site Vietnamnet that consumers had questioned
the quality of C2 and Rong Do drinks they had consumed before the scandal made headlines. URC
might have marketed a larger volume of lead-contaminated drinks than the 1,200 cartons, weighing
over 10 tons, which have been destroyed with the witness of Ministry of Health inspectors.
Consumers can sue URC but it might be difficult to prove any immediate health problems caused by its
contaminated beverages. In addition, URCs business partners, sales agents and suppliers can file legal
action against the firm for making substandard products and thus affecting their business operations
and revenues.
Following an inspection into URC Hanoi, Ministry of Health inspectors will carry out similar
inspections into URC Vietnam. Other major beverages producers might be next on the ministrys
inspection list.
The lead contamination scandal has damaged the reputation of the company and consumers will surely
shun its products altogether. This is the price it must pay.