Vietnam’s Food Safety Department launched an investigation into the weight-loss product Dáng Sen after discovering it was marketed online without proper regulatory approval.
The product, which is advertised on social media and e-commerce platforms with promises of helping users lose weight, lacks the legally required product registration certificate, according to the Food Safety Department.
Article 26 of Government Decree No. 15/2018/ND-CP requires food products to register their advertising content before public release.
The Dáng Sen food product is manufactured by Thai Hung Import-Export Trading Investment Joint Stock Company, located in Hung Yen province, and distributed by Nam Y Duong Co., Ltd. in Hanoi.
On November 12, 2026, the Food Safety Department issued official letter No. 2405/ATTP-SP to the Sub-department of Food Safety and Hygiene in Hung Yen province. The letter requests an inspection of the production activities at the Thai Hung facility.
A companion directive, official letter No. 2406/ATTP-SP, went to the Sub-department of Food Safety and Hygiene in Hanoi. This document directs local officials to review the business and distribution operations of Nam Y Duong Co., Ltd.
Both provincial and municipal agencies must submit their findings to the Food Safety Department by November 30, 2026.
The Food Safety Department issued official letter No. 2409/ATTP-SP to the E-Commerce and Digital Economy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
The letter asks the department to instruct online platforms, including Shopee and Lazada, to halt the trade of Dáng Sen and remove all promotional content concerning the item.
Direct notices were also sent to platform operators. Official letter No. 2407/ATTP-SP went to Shopee Co., Ltd., and official letter No. 2408/ATTP-SP went to Lazada Vietnam E-commerce Co., Ltd.
The Food Safety Department instructed both companies to review their functional food listings and ensure that every listed product holds a valid product declaration registration certificate or appears in the food safety data information system. Shopee and Lazada must submit written reports to the Food Safety Department by November 20, 2026.
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