In brief
The former beauty queen's collaboration on a fiber gummy product resulted in public outrage after lab tests revealed false claims about its fiber content.
Authorities in Vietnam have taken action against Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien, the 2021 Miss Grand International titleholder, for consumer fraud linked to her promotion of a counterfeit fiber supplement. Tien, a prominent figure and influencer, faced public backlash after assertions that her Kera Supergreens Gummies contained a high fiber content were proven false by subsequent lab testing.Investigations commenced after a member of the public submitted the gummies for analysis, leading to the shocking discovery that each gummy contained only 16mg of fiber, a significant discrepancy from the advertised 200mg. Tien had marketed these gummy supplements alongside fellow influencers Pham Quang Linh and Hang Du Muc, claiming that their product provided the fiber equivalent of a plate of vegetables.Further investigations revealed that the gummies were manufactured under subpar conditions and that the packaging failed to accurately disclose fiber content while containing high levels of sorbitol, commonly used in laxatives. The combined efforts of the authorities led to the arrest of Linh, Du Muc, and several officials connected to the company behind the gummies, all accused of producing counterfeit goods.In March, the three influencers faced fines and issued public apologies, but legal actions escalated with Nguyen's arrest early this week, aiming to address the allegations of deceiving customers. To date, more than 100,000 boxes of the gummies had been sold before their distribution was halted.Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien rose to fame after winning the beauty pageant in Bangkok, making her a sought-after figure for various Vietnamese brands and reality shows. She also received accolades from the Vietnamese government, further complicating her public persona as the case develops.
