Miss Grand scandal: Thuy Tien arrested for food fraud!

Miss Grand scandal: Thuy Tien arrested for food fraud!

On May 19, 2025, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam announced that 27-year-old Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, who won the title of Miss Grand International in 2021, will be prosecuted for consumer fraud. Thuy Tien, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City, co-owned the herbal supplement Kera and held 30% of the profits.

The investigation also targets four other Asia Life Joint Stock Company executives in connection with the production of counterfeit food. According to reports, Thuy Tien has generated nearly VND18 billion in sales by selling over 135,000 boxes of Kera vegetable sweets, which is equivalent to nearly VND7 billion in commission. She had promoted the product as a "spirit" product on social media and appeared on livestreams to sell the candy.

Criticism and consumer complaints

Consumers expressed significant concerns about the candy's ingredients, leading to calls for accountability. In particular, it turned out that the actual nutritional values ​​of the Kera gummies differed significantly from the advertising claims. Independent testing found just 0.51 grams of fiber per 30 gummy pack, which was well below the advertised content.

Following the public criticism, Thuy Tien deleted several product-related posts from her Facebook page. She was involved in producing promotional videos in vegetable gardens and had made promises that one gummy was "equivalent to one serving of vegetables". However, it was actually found that the vegetable powders used were of poor quality, containing only 0.61 to 0.75% fiber, instead of the advertised 28%.

Legal consequences

Because of this misleading advertising, investigators also discovered that the gummies were laced with 35% sorbitol, an artificial sweetener with laxative effects. Thuy Tien and two influencers, Pham Quang Linh and Nguyen Thi Thai Hang, were called to testify and admitted to making misleading statements. While Linh and Hang were fined VND140 million each, Thuy Tien was fined VND25 million for failing to disclose paid advertising.

However, Thuy Tien was not only fined, but was also arrested along with others and is now facing consumer fraud charges. The allegations have had a significant impact on her career and public image, having achieved widespread fame through beauty events in the past.

The preliminary findings show that the packaging of the Kera gummies correctly stated the amount of added sugar, protein content and energy content, but the fiber information was completely missing. The investigative authorities continue to work on the case to find out the exact circumstances behind the fraudulent marketing.

The events surrounding Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien and the Kera gummies are likely to further fuel the discussion about the responsibility of influencers and their marketing practices in Vietnam.

For more information on the details of the case, visit the pages of Vietnam.vn and VNExpress.