Brian Jeffrey
Chu Quoc Thinh, the Deputy Director of the Food Safety Authority within the Ministry of Health, stated that the agency is currently evaluating the promotional content released by Ngan 98 for products such as X7 Plus herbal capsules, Super Detox X3, and X1000.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the product is registered,” Mr. Thinh noted on May 23. “Yet, we are assessing whether the advertising material complies with regulations.”
Mr. Thinh elaborated that advertising for health supplements, nutritional foods, and specialized dietary products requires prior approval. Common infringements can include promoting non-registered products, unverified marketing claims, and overstating benefits beyond what has been officially documented.
“We consistently monitor social media channels, and upon identifying any violations, we quickly take steps to guarantee accurate and truthful product promotion,” he remarked.
The situation escalated following claims on social media suggesting that one of Ngan 98’s weight loss offerings contained sibutramine—a prohibited ingredient known for its appetite-suppressing effects but with potential health risks.
In reply, Ngan 98 maintained that she is only a brand representative and insisted that all her products have undergone proper testing and are safe for consumers. On May 22, she presented documentation, including product registration, test results, manufacturing agreements, tax invoices, and marketing contracts, to the Food Safety Department in Ho Chi Minh City.
On May 21, the department conducted an unscheduled inspection of the disputed supplements; however, Ngan 98 and her distributor were unable to provide the necessary documentation at that moment. She subsequently submitted all required papers the following day for a formal assessment.
The product labels indicate that the weight loss items were distributed by Zubu Trading Service Co., Ltd., situated in Go Vap District, HCMC, and made at a facility in Dan Phuong Industrial Zone, Hanoi. However, authorities discovered during their May 21 visit that the office was shut down, and no product samples were taken.
Ngan 98 later clarified that Zubu had ceased its operations two years ago and that her current products have no association with the company.
Online Dispute and Product Suspension
DJ Ngan 98 started promoting weight loss products in 2020, including Super Detox X3, X1000, and X7 Plus. As of May 21, her online shop had been closed, rendering the products unavailable to customers.
The dispute gained traction due to a widely shared video featuring a livestream clash between Ngan 98 and another seller, “Ngan Collagen.” In this session, both accused each other of offering unsafe products. Ngan Collagen referenced a situation involving a woman named “H.” who allegedly had a sample tested and found it to contain sibutramine.
The Ministry of Health and Ho Chi Minh City authorities are collaborating on further inspections and verification to determine if these products breached food safety regulations or posed health risks to consumers.
Vo Thu – Phuong Thuy
