Nearly 2 tons of lotus root and banana chips were soaked in bleach and borax.
Raiding three establishments in District 8, police discovered many lotus roots and banana chips soaked in bleach and borax before being sold.
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Amount of food and chemicals inside the facility. Photo:Provided by police. |
Team 4 of the Ho Chi Minh City Environmental Crime Prevention Police Department raided three food production sites in the Ben Luc residential area (District 8) early on April 11. The authorities discovered many people soaking nearly two tons of lotus roots and banana chips in barrels containing borax, bleach, acetic acid (industrial vinegar)...
Nearly 200 kg of bleach, 100 kg of acetic acid, and 5 kg of borax were seized. These chemicals are all on the list of chemicals banned from use in food.
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After being pre-processed with borax and bleach, lotus root tubers are brought to the market for sale. Photo:Provided by police. |
The owner of the three establishments, Le Kim Truc, admitted to pouring chemicals directly onto lotus roots and banana chips soaked in barrels before bringing them to wholesale markets and restaurants for consumption...
Police have sealed all the food for clarification.
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A barrel of Acetic Acid at the facility. Photo:Provided by police. |
Bleaching chemicals, if not used in the right dosage, can damage the digestive system, intestinal mucosa, leading to intestinal ulcers, stomach ulcers, and capillary damage. People who regularly eat bleached foods will have chemicals accumulate in the body, causing cancer.
Borax has long been banned by the Ministry of Health as an additive in food processing. If the body absorbs large amounts of borax, it can lead to digestive disorders, vomiting, diarrhea, skin damage, and kidney failure. In pregnant or lactating women, borax will enter the placenta or enter breast milk, causing poisoning in the baby.
