Vietnamese beauty queen arrested for fraud over fibre gummies
Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien had heavily marketed gummies said to be rich in fibre on her social media channels.
But a public backlash erupted after product tests revealed this was untrue.
A former winner of the Miss Grand International beauty competition, Ms Nguyen is a well-known personality in Vietnam and previously received accolades from the government.
Ms Nguyen had promoted Kera Supergreens Gummies along with social media influencers, Pham Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc.
Investigators said the product was the result of a joint venture between Ms Nguyen and a company set up by the two other influencers.
The influencers claimed that each of their gummies contained fibre equivalent to a plate of vegetables.
A member of the public sent the product for testing at a lab, which found that each gummy only contained 16mg of fibre, far from 200mg as claimed.
Authorities then launched an investigation, which found that sub-standard ingredients that were low in fibre were used in the manufacture of the gummies.
The product's packaging also did not state the fibre content, nor did it state that the product contained a high level of sorbitol, which is used in laxatives.
The three influencers were fined in March, and apologised to the public.
The following month, Vietnamese authorities arrested Mr Pham and Hang Du Muc as well as officials from their company and the gummies' manufacturer.
They were charged with producing counterfeit goods and defrauding customers.
On Monday, authorities announced the arrest of Ms Nguyen for allegedly deceiving customers.
More than 100,000 boxes of the gummies were reportedly sold before sales were halted due to the scandal.
After winning the Bangkok-based beauty pageant in 2021, Ms Nguyen became a celebrity sought after by many Vietnamese brands, and appeared on several reality TV shows.
She also received certificates of merit from the prime minister and Vietnam's ruling Communist Party.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
American Press
22 minutes ago
- American Press
UPDATE: Explosions at US Steel plant leave 1 dead and dozens hurt or trapped under rubble
Explosions at a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh left one dead and dozens injured or trapped under the rubble Monday, with emergency workers on site trying to rescue victims, officials said. The explosions sent black smoke spiralling into the midday sky in the Mon Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel for more than a century. An Allegheny County emergency services spokesperson, Kasey Reigner, said one person died and two were currently believed to be unaccounted for. Multiple other people were treated for injuries, Reigner said. Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10:51 a.m. The explosions sent a shock through the community and led to officials asking residents to stay away from the scene so emergency workers could respond. 'It felt like thunder,' Zachary Buday, a construction worker near the scene, told WTAE-TV. 'Shook the scaffold, shook my chest, and shook the building, and then when we saw the dark smoke coming up from the steel mill and put two and two together, and it's like something bad happened.' Dozens were injured and the county was sending 15 ambulances, on top of the ambulances supplied by local emergency response agencies, Reigner said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said via X that 'multiple explosions' occurred at the facility. Clairton residents like Amy Sowers, 49, felt an explosion nearby. Sowers, who was sitting on her porch located less than a mile from the plant, felt her house shake. 'I could see smoke from my driveway,' she said. 'We heard ambulances and fire trucks from every direction.' Sowers decided to leave the area after she said she smelled a faint smell in the air. Sowers, who grew up in Clairton, has seen several incidents at the plant over the years. Despite health concerns, Sowers said many residents cannot afford to leave. A maintenance worker was killed in an explosion at the plant in September 2009. In July 2010, another explosion injured 14 employees and six contractors. 'Lives were lost again,' Sowers said. 'How many more lives are going to have to be lost until something happens?' Air quality concerns and health warnings The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania that employ several thousand workers. In a statement, U.S. Steel said an 'incident' occurred at the plant's coke oven batteries 13 and 14. The company, now a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., said emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, but it gave no other details about the cause of the explosions, casualties or damage. The company's CEO, David Burritt, said in the statement that U.S. Steel is working with authorities to investigate the cause. The plant converts coal to coke, a key component in the steel-making process. To make coke, coal is baked in special ovens for hours at high temperatures to remove impurities that could otherwise weaken steel. The process creates what's known as coke gas — made up of a lethal mix of methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi said his heart goes out to the victims of Monday's explosions. 'The mill is such a big part of Clairton,' he said. 'It's just a sad day for Clairton.' The Allegheny County Health Department said it is monitoring the explosions and advised residents within 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) of the plant to remain indoors, close all windows and doors, set air conditioning systems to recirculate, and avoid drawing in outside air, such as using exhaust fans. It said its monitors have not detected levels of soot or sulfur dioxide above federal standards. According to the company, the plant produces 4.3 million tons (3.9 million metric tons) of coke annually and has approximately 1,400 workers.
Axios
22 minutes ago
- Axios
New Charlotte-based dating app for dog lovers to launch soon
For all those tired of endless swiping, a new Charlotte-based dating app called Frolly aims to change the game by matching people through a shared love of dogs. Why it matters: Frolly's founder, Cindy Himmel, hopes the new app brings some joy back to dating when it launches in September. She says the traits dog owners usually have — like being responsible, caring and trustworthy — are foundational for great relationships. "The qualities that people look for in partners are oftentimes the qualities that they exemplify with their dogs," like being adventurous, Himmel said. Context: Himmel and her daughter, Amanda Pietrick, who are both dog lovers, also founded The Artemis Cares Fund to provide low-cost pet care for pit bull owners. Himmel tells Axios the idea for the app began after a conversation in which Pietrick said she ended things with someone because "he wasn't that into dogs." How it works: Frolly is similar to other dating apps, where you'll create a personal profile with your background. You'll also include information about your life as a dog owner. Then you can create a profile for your dog with details like their size, breed and lifestyle — including their social habits and activity level. The app uses artificial intelligence matching algorithms to connect people based on dog-related preferences and lifestyle compatibility. What they're saying: "The dog section encompasses ... basic things like if your dog is spayed or neutered. Are they allowed in your bed? Are they allowed on your furniture? If you have a cat, are they good with a cat? Is your dog good with children? So all the things that might be important to know," Himmel said. State of play: The app is open to all ages, and you don't have to be a dog owner to join. But Himmel says you must be a "dog person." Himmel says she believes there will be plenty of opportunities to find a love match in the Charlotte area, especially since it's such a pet-friendly city. With dog-friendly patios, parks, and activities, she sees even more potential for fun and meaningful dates. "You do not have to have a dog to use the app. Absolutely not. You just have to be someone who shares a passion for them. It's not like everyone has to be obsessed with their dog, but I think they have to be open to their partner's love of dogs," Himmel said. Zoom out: Frolly will be free to users for the first six months after it launches on the App Store and Google Play Store. After that, there will be a $12 monthly subscription fee. Membership proceeds will be donated to local rescue organizations.
UPI
23 minutes ago
- UPI
Palestinian journalists killed by Israel mourned in Gaza funeral
1 of 4 | Mourners attend the funeral of Al Jazeera journalists Anas Al Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa, who were killed in an Israeli strike, in Gaza City, on Monday. An Israeli drone strike hit a tent sheltering Al Jazeera journalists near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, killing seven members of the press. Photo by Mahmoud Issa/UPI | License Photo Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Hundreds of mourners in Gaza gathered for the funerals of five Al Jazeera journalists killed by an Israeli strike on a press tent. The strike killed five reporters working for Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based news organization. The five were reporter Anas al-Sharif, correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, and video journalists Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal. Freelance reporter Mohammed al-Khaldi was also among those killed. There were seven journalists in total killed. Al-Sharif, 28, was a popular reporter in Gaza. Israel alleged Sunday that Al-Sharif was a member of Hamas. Al Jazeera called that allegation false. Al Jazeera condemned the "targeted assassination" by Israeli forces, and accused the Israeli Defense Forces of deliberately striking the journalists. "The Israeli military admitted to their crimes," the network said, describing the attack as "another blatant and premeditated assault on press freedom." Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed mourners chanting slogans against the killings, saying, "With our soul and blood, we sacrifice for you, Anas." They carried the bodies of the journalists, covered in flags and press flak jackets, on their shoulders from al-Shifa Hospital to Sheikh Radwan Cemetery in central Gaza. The press tent where the attack happened was outside the al-Shifa Hospital. The Committee to Protect Journalists said it was "appalled" by the killings. "Israel's pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom," CPJ's regional director, Sara Qudah, said in a statement. "Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable." The United Nations Human Rights Office has condemned the killing of journalists in Gaza, calling it a "grave breach of international humanitarian law," CNN reported. "We condemn the killing by Israeli military of six Palestinian journalists by targeting their tent, in grave breach of international humanitarian law," the United Nations said on X, adding that "Israel must respect & protect all civilians, including journalists." At least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, the U.N. said, calling for immediate and safe access for all journalists to Gaza. The Committee to Protect Journalists says the number is 178.
