Province of Soc Traang conducts investigation on viral assertions about substandard meat quality, as company denies accusations

Soc Trang Province, Vietnam - An inter-agency inspection team visited a CPViet Nam-owned store on Friday, following allegations of poor meat quality that circulated on social media. The store, CP Fresh Shop in My Xuyen District, denies the accusations, stating that a former employee, who left the company in 2023, is behind the viral post.

The allegations, which circulated on Facebook, showed images of low-quality pork and chicken. However, the store manager revealed that the viral photos were taken in 2022, in Ha Tien province, not Soc Trang.

Earlier in the day, a social media user, claiming to be a local food store employee in Soc Trang, posted allegations about quality issues related to CPViet Nam. The account, Jonny Lieu, shared pictures and screenshots of conversations with the pseudonymous Ngan Tech account, which CPViet Nam later confirmed to be fabricated.

The viral post caused public concern, amassing over 171,000 reactions and more than 156,000 shares on Facebook.

Upon inspection, the store manager stated that all pork sold at the shop comes with full documentation. The store maintains that it only receives whole pigs daily, which are butchered on-site, with no pre-cut meat. Initial checks found the pork products to be safe, free from chemical preservatives, and in compliance with food safety regulations.

The inspection team, consisting of representatives from Soc Trang's Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, the Department of Agriculture and Environment's Inspectorate, and the provincial police's Economic Security Division, is conducting a larger investigation into livestock and veterinary businesses in the area as part of the ongoing national campaign against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods.

In response to the allegations, CPViet Nam issued an official statement, calling the accusations false and damaging to the company's reputation, as well as causing panic among consumers. The company stated that the attached images in the posts were unclear in origin and timing, and did not depict CPViet Nam's products.

CPViet Nam is urging stakeholders to remain calm, seek verified and balanced information, and is cooperating with relevant authorities to address the situation. The company's operations remain fully compliant with legal regulations and are open to addressing concerns via official communication channels.

CPViet Nam is a subsidiary of the Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), which operates across multiple sectors in agriculture and food processing. The company operates around 21 factories in Vietnam and supplies over 6.8 million pigs to the domestic market each year. Its CPV Food Binh Phuoc plant, with a total investment of US$250 million, went into operation in 2020 and shipped its first exported chicken that same year. In 2024, the company reported a record revenue of approximately VND93 trillion ($3.6 billion). Despite challenges in the animal agriculture sector, CP Foods, the parent company, reported significant profit growth in early 2025.

An inter-agency inspection team of Sóc Trăng Province visits Fresh Shop store in Mỹ Xuyên Township belonging to CP Việt Nam on Friday. - VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Phi

The allegations of poor meat quality at CP Fresh Shop in Soc Trang Province, Vietnam, have raised concerns about the health-and-wellness of consumers, amassing significant reactions and shares on social media platforms like Facebook.
The management at CP Fresh Shop maintains that the viral photos, which show low-quality pork and chicken, are not representative of their store as they were taken in a different province and year.
The investigation conducted by the inter-agency inspection team, which includes representatives from Sóc Tràng's Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, the Department of Agriculture and Environment's Inspectorate, and the provincial police's Economic Security Division, has uncovered that all pork sold at the store comes with full documentation and is free from chemical preservatives.
In the realm of trade and business, CPViet Nam, a subsidiary of the Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), operates across agricultural and food processing sectors, boasting over 21 factories in Vietnam and supplying a substantial number of pigs to the domestic market each year.
In a bid to mainly safeguard consumer lifestyle and personal-finance through transparency, CPViet Nam has issued an official statement refuting the accusations of quality issues, acknowledging the images are unclear in origin and timing, and are not representative of their products.
The company's commitment to science and environment is underscored by its adherence to food safety regulations and commitment to a sustainable food-and-drink industry, evidenced by their investments in technologically advanced facilities like the CPV Food Binh Phuoc plant.
As part of the ongoing national campaign against smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, the investigation conducted by the inspection team is also examining livestock and veterinary businesses in the area, with the goal of securing healthier trade practices and promoting a solid environment for both locals and international stakeholders.
Moreover, CPViet Nam's operations remain fully compliant with legal regulations, and the company encourages stakeholders to seek verified and balanced information while maintaining a calm demeanor, as the company works in collaboration with authorities to restore consumer trust and preserve its wealth-management and reputation in the health-and-wellness and investing sectors.

Province of Soc Traang conducts investigation on viral assertions about substandard meat quality, as company denies accusations