Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam asked to conduct thorough product testing

November 22, 2016 | 09:13

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Last week, the Ministry of Health’s inspectors fined Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam for failing to conduct enough periodical product tests, but they confirmed the sampled products all met safety requirements.

According to the inspection team’s conclusion, the American beverage firm did test its products periodically, “but not in full as required by the regulations.” The firm was fined VND25 million ($1,140).

“Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam tested one representative package of each product formula, instead of all packages,” noted the Ministry’s Chief Inspector Dang Van Chinh.

The chief inspector, however, stated that all of the 107 samples, including finished products, raw materials, additives, and packaging, are in complete compliance with food safety regulations and are consistent with declared standards.

The firm also strictly complies with the government’s prevailing regulations on labelling, product storage conditions, production process, utility of water, health checks for labourers, and advertisement.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) inspectors conducted the comprehensive periodical inspection during September and October this year at five plants of Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Can Tho, Quang Nam, and Bac Ninh, and four plants acting as the company’s contractors.

In a press release, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam claimed that its product testing error was due to a misunderstanding of the periodical test protocol.

Having received detailed guidance from the MoH, the American icon has already implemented supplementary tests for all packaging, producing 100 per cent in compliance.

In its press release, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam stated that the firm highly values the seriousness and impartiality of the inspection team and pledges to fully comply with the decisions made by the MoH as well as abide by prevailing regulations.

Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, formerly PepsiCo Vietnam, is a wholly foreign-owned joint venture between US PepsiCo Inc. and Japanese Suntory Holdings Limited.

It produces and trades 51 food and drink products, of which 33 are beverage, 17 are supplementary food, and one bottled purified water.

The firm’s most popular products in Vietnam include Pepsi, Sting, Tea+ Plus Oolong, and Matcha, Tropicana Twister, Mirinda, 7Up, and Aquafina.

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