Continuously detecting foods containing toxic chemicals
In Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces, the inspection team of the Department of Food Safety and Hygiene (Ministry of Health) discovered about 300/440 product samples containing toxic chemicals.
In the Northern provinces, it is common to see chili sauce using the toxic chemical Rhodamine B for coloring. In particular, 15% of samples of vermicelli, pho, banh gio, banh phu the contain borax, colorants, instant noodles and alkaline soft drinks...
Chili powder, chili slices, and jam products were found to contain carcinogens.
Notably, Thanh Loc chili products, 50g jar (batch with production date July 3, 2011, expiry date July 3, 2012) of Thanh Loc Production and Trading Joint Stock Company, branch on Cong Hoa Street, Ward 12, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, contain rhodamine B - a carcinogen. Pandan kaze jam product (often used to make cakes), 1kg jar (batch with production date October 20, 2011, expiry date October 20, 2012) of Moc Thuy Production, Trading and Service Company Limited (TA09 Street, Group 10, Quarter 3, Thoi An Ward, District 12) contains an extremely dangerous dye called malachite green, which is only used in industrial production.
In response to the above violations, the Department Inspectorate decided to suspend the operations of the two facilities, seal all shipments found to contain toxic substances, and require the two companies to recall and destroy the products that have been released to the market.
Previously, the authorities inspected many collective kitchens, jam, ham, sausage, etc. production facilities and discovered many samples of melon seeds, chili powder, chili sauce, hot pot spices, etc. without labels or expiration dates, and the stall owners could not prove the origin of the items being sold. Among them, melon seeds and chili powder contained toxic chemicals.
Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted a source from the Food Safety Department as saying that, in addition to the upcoming inspection in Hanoi (from January 7, 2012), with the participation of Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, the Ministers of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will also have a plan to inspect food safety and hygiene.
The Ministry of Health will submit to the Government to launch another "Month of action for food safety and hygiene" in January 2012 before Tet, in addition to the usual month of action in April every year./.
According to VOV
