Amidst the nutritional "matrix", parents need to be smart consumers.

(Baohatinh.vn) - The case of Hiup 27 milk being counterfeit not only raises the issue of State management responsibility, but also serves as a reminder for consumers to improve their understanding and stay alert in the current "matrix" of nutritional products.

Recently, the Investigation Police Agency of the Ministry of Public Security has prosecuted and temporarily detained 10 suspects related to the case of "Violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences; producing and trading in counterfeit food products" occurring at Z Holding Joint Stock Company (Hanoi) and related organizations.

Hiup 27 nutritional product. Photo: Internet.

According to the investigation results, Hiup 27 products (powder form 420g, 650g, 800g and some liquid forms) manufactured at Nature Made Trading and Production Joint Stock Company Factory from August 2024 to March 2025 do not ensure the ingredients and nutritional content according to the declared records. While the records record 37 nutrients, the test results show that there are only 15-17 nutritional ingredients, many indicators do not reach 70% as declared and are considered fake goods.

Notably, despite the factory price of only 87,800 VND/box, Hiup 27 is sold on the market at an average price of more than 546,000 VND. Many parents have trusted and bought this product after seeing famous faces such as BTV Quang Minh and MC Thanh Van promote it widely on social networks.

Two suspects, Hoang Quang Thinh (left) and La Khac Minh, in the counterfeit repair ring have just been prosecuted by the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency. Photo: Ministry of Public Security.

The news that Hiup 27 milk is fake has made many parents worried when they know that they have given their children this product. On online forums, many parents expressed their anger because they had put their trust in a product introduced and advertised by a celebrity.

Ms. B.D. ( Ha Tinh city) expressed: “I really regret letting my child use Hiup milk. I thought the product had been tested and recommended by many famous faces, so I bought 6 boxes of Hiup milk for more than 3 million VND. At that time, my child was 9 years old, drinking the milk made him gain weight but not grow taller, so I stopped buying it. As a mother, everyone wants their child to use good products, but I didn't expect to buy fake milk."

Ms. Dang Nguyen (Ky Anh town) also let her child try 2 boxes of Hiup milk, then ordered another box of 12 boxes for long-term use. Luckily, thanks to discovering unusual signs and consulting with breastfeeding mothers' groups on social networks, she stopped in time. "I learned about this product from advertisements by famous MCs and actors. When the press reported that this was fake milk, I was still shocked. Thinking back, I feel lucky that I didn't let my child drink any more boxes" - Ms. Nguyen shared.

Hiup 27 milk was once advertised heavily on a social networking forum in the Ha Tinh area.

The Hiup 27 incident shows a noteworthy reality: the current nutritional market still has a situation of “mixed gold and brass”, especially in the context of increasingly popular online shopping, consumers are easily influenced by advertising tricks. After recent concerns and warnings, many consumers are more cautious, proactively researching carefully when choosing nutritional products for their children.

Ms. Tran Thi Oanh (Nghi Xuan district) shared: “My child started drinking formula milk at 6 months old. I always consult and learn a lot about milk lines. Choosing the right product is one of the most important decisions, directly affecting the physical and intellectual development of children. My first criterion is to choose a long-standing reputable brand, buying through an authorized distribution channel. The products discovered to be fake in the past are all from not-so-famous companies, if they were not discovered, I would not have chosen them. Moreover, I also do not believe that milk can increase height by 3 - 5 cm after 3 months of use as advertised.”

According to experts, when choosing nutritional products for children, it is necessary to choose reputable brands on the market, with clear origins, inspections, food safety certifications and evaluations from reputable health organizations . At the same time, parents need to carefully study the nutritional composition of milk, its suitability for the age and health status of the child.

Consumers should choose nutritional products with reputable brands and carefully research the ingredients.

From the Hiup 27 incident, another issue that has been raised is the responsibility of celebrities - such as MCs, editors, KOLs - when participating in product promotion on social networks and mass media. Lawyer Nguyen Trong Nghia (Long Phuc Law Firm, Ha Tinh City) analyzed: “Celebrities have a great influence on current consumer behavior. If they provide false information, leading to consumers buying poor quality products, then they cannot shirk their responsibility. Product promotion means having to take legal responsibility for the posted content.”

Lawyer Nghia also emphasized: “If individuals assist in selling counterfeit goods, causing serious consequences, they can be prosecuted under Article 197 of the 2015 Penal Code. Therefore, online sellers, especially influencers, need to proactively check the origin of products, cooperate with reputable suppliers, and have full legal documents. This is both a way to prevent risks and help build trust with customers.”

Many opinions say that, in addition to strictly handling violations that have occurred, management agencies need to strengthen post-inspection work, tighten licensing procedures, and at the same time publicize inspection information for people to easily look up. This is becoming more and more necessary in the context of advertising and sales via social networks that are increasingly developing, posing many potential risks to consumers.

The Hiup 27 incident is a wake-up call for consumers, especially parents. In an increasingly diverse and unregulated market, choosing nutritional products is not just a financial matter, but also an investment in the health and future of children. Therefore, more than ever, parents need to be alert, careful and proactive in becoming smart consumers.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/giua-ma-tran-dinh-duong-phu-huynh-can-la-nguoi-tieu-dung-thong-thai-post290764.html