Despite apologies from Quang Linh Vlogs and Hang "Du Muc" over exaggerated advertising claims and CER Group's commitment to refund buyers, many questions remain regarding the production process, awaiting investigation by regulatory authorities.

The launch of Kera vegetable candy

In November 2024, Quang Linh, Hang "Du Muc," and four others founded CER Group, partnering with Asia Life Corporation (Dak Lak) to introduce their first product, Kera vegetable candy.

During a livestream, Quang Linh made a bold claim about the product: "Each piece is equivalent to a plate of vegetables."

Quang Linh's statement quickly sparked criticism, with many accusing him of false advertising. Under public pressure, he issued an apology on February 24 via his fan page with 2.2 million followers.

"I sincerely apologize for conveying inaccurate information that 'one piece equals a plate of vegetables,' which may have misled customers," he admitted, acknowledging the mistake and asking for forgiveness.

Conflicting fiber content test results

In early March, a consumer with over 590,000 TikTok followers sent Kera candy for fiber content testing.

Results from March 3 revealed that 100g of the product contained only 0.51g of total fiber, equivalent to the fiber in one-sixth of a banana. Since a Kera candy box contains 32 pieces weighing 96g in total, each piece would contain just 16mg of fiber.

On March 5, Kera Vietnam’s official fan page published a different test result. It stated that 100g of Kera candy contained 0.935% fiber (approximately 0.02992g), while another test on February 13, 2025, found 5.8% inulin fiber (a type of soluble fiber), equating to 0.1856g per 100g of candy.

Government intervention and investigation

On March 6, following public and media scrutiny, Vietnam’s Food Safety Department under the Ministry of Health announced that Kera vegetable candy showed "signs of violating food advertising regulations, causing public concern."

The department requested Ho Chi Minh City’s Food Safety Authority to investigate CER Group's production conditions, product certification, and advertising claims.

Meanwhile, Dak Lak’s Department of Health was instructed to inspect Asia Life Corporation's compliance with production regulations for Kera candy. Authorities warned that any violations found would be "strictly handled."

Additionally, the Department of Broadcasting and Electronic Information and the Department of Cultural Affairs (under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism) were tasked with examining the promotional activities of celebrities endorsing Kera candy on online platforms.

On March 14, Ho Chi Minh City’s Food Safety Authority confirmed it had collected product samples for laboratory analysis. Similarly, Dak Lak’s health department collected samples from Asia Life’s production facility and sent them to the National Institute for Food Safety Testing.

Miss Thuy Tien's involvement and apology

Miss Grand International 2021, Thuy Tien, was one of Kera candy’s celebrity endorsers, appearing in multiple advertisements on Kera Vietnam's official fan page.

When the controversy erupted, she remained silent but later issued a public apology on March 6.

"I have been using this product for several months," she stated, emphasizing that she had received all necessary certifications before endorsing it. However, as the issue escalated, she reached out to the involved parties and regulatory agencies to verify the product's claims.

Thuy Tien apologized for "any concerns caused" and acknowledged that all her promotional statements were based on information provided by the manufacturer. She called the incident a "valuable lesson" and sincerely apologized for any misunderstandings.

Notably, before issuing her apology, she had deleted all social media posts related to Kera candy.

Apologies and refunds, but lingering questions

Despite public apologies from Quang Linh Vlogs and Hang "Du Muc" for their "terminology errors" and CER Group’s commitment to refund customers, many unanswered questions remain.

Commenters on VietNamNet, reacting to an article about Hang "Du Muc" breaking down in tears and Quang Linh Vlogs planning to return to Africa after the scandal, raised concerns about the product's manufacturing process.

Additionally, questions persist about whether Thuy Tien will continue endorsing the product after the controversy.

Asia Life previously stated that it manufactured the product based on a formula provided by CER Group. However, the origin and research behind this formula remain unclear.

Some consumers even questioned whether the factory met Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards, as claimed in a February 18 social media post. Was Asia Life merely packaging the product, or did it oversee the entire production process?

Moreover, many are eagerly awaiting the official test results from government agencies regarding Kera candy’s fiber content and other ingredients.

"Authorities should promptly disclose test results and impose strict penalties on any individuals or organizations found violating regulations," commented a reader named B.M.

Another reader, K.N, expressed frustration over the trend of influencers misleading consumers, stating: "This is customer deception and a betrayal of public trust. Apologies are not enough - there must be legal consequences to set an example."

Vo Thu