After its Sichuan-style khau nhuc product failed to sell, the director of Hanoi-based Z FOODDELI Food Company used ChatGPT to design a "Khau nhuc That Khe, Lang Son" label and replace the markings on products that had already been made.
On October 26, the Lang Son provincial market surveillance authority reported a case in which people ordered khau nhuc online but received a bone and pork leg that did not match the advertising.
According to the authority, Lang Son has three facilities producing and processing canned khau nhuc, five businesses selling it, and many small retailers offering ready-to-eat khau nhuc.
The investigation found no facility in Lang Son producing or selling the products described in social-media posts. All canned khau nhuc produced and processed in the province carry labels and clear origin information as required by law.
The fake Khau nhuc That Khe sold on social media was identified as a product of "Bếp Z Food." Customers said the parcels were sent from Hanoi, not Lang Son.
An investigation by Lang Son and Hanoi police found that L.T.T., 34, was the director and legal representative of Z FOODDELI Food Company at 660 Phu Dien, Hanoi.
Around September 2026, T. searched social media for recipes for khau nhuc and Sichuan-style pork leg. He then ordered tin cans, pork, and pork legs labeled "Sichuan-style khau nhuc" through social media.
At first, T. instructed employees to cook pork legs and pack them as canned khau nhuc. When the products failed to sell, he saw sellers offering canned Lang Son khau nhuc and used ChatGPT to design a "Khau nhuc That Khe, Lang Son" label. He printed it and put it on products made earlier.
Police determined that in September 2026, T. instructed employees to make 500 products with the label for sale through social media. After the labels were changed, he received orders for 150 products.
Many customers returned the products after receiving them. On October 2, T. stopped production and destroyed the remaining products. Hanoi police opened a case file and are continuing to clarify the violations and the people involved.
Dang Van Ngoc, head of the Lang Son provincial market surveillance authority, said the agency began checking the case immediately after receiving complaints.
On October 16, the authority instructed its teams to review the province and trace labels showing signs of counterfeiting. It also sent a document to the Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Division of Lang Son police.
The authority said Khau nhuc That Khe is a three-star OCOP product and a specialty of Lang Son. Consumers are advised to check products carefully before accepting delivery to avoid counterfeits.
Sources: Thanh Niên
