Discovered a famous banh goi production facility in Vinh City using borax

In Vinh City, the police force has just discovered a cake production facility using borax in processing.

More than 400 newly produced cakes containing borax were confiscated. Photo: Quynh Trang

Previously, on the afternoon of May 6, the Economic Police Team - Vinh City Police inspected the Hieu Nghe wrapped cake shop of Mr. Trinh Ban Hieu's family (62 years old, residing in Le Mao ward, Vinh city).

Here, the inspection team took samples of borax in the cakes at the facility. The results showed that the packaged cake products reacted to the borax test. Borax is a substance that is not included in the list of additives and food processing aids specified in Circular 24/2019 of the Ministry of Health.

The chemical name for borax is Borax. This substance is often used in detergents, soaps, and disinfectants.

Borax is a substance that the Ministry of Health prohibits from being used as an additive in food processing. However, for profit, many people have added this substance to some foods such as vermicelli, pork rolls to make the food tough, crispy, white, and to make the food last longer.

According to medical documents, borax has very harmful effects on health: If the body absorbs a large amount of borax, it can lead to digestive disorders, vomiting, diarrhea; Skin damage; Kidney failure; Neurological symptoms, which can lead to coma and death.

In cases where the body absorbs a small amount, but gradually accumulates in the tissues, it can cause chronic effects such as: Damage to the digestive system, hindering absorption, metabolism and organ function; Damage to the liver and degeneration of the genitals. In pregnant or lactating women, borax will follow the placenta or go through breast milk, causing poisoning to the baby.

The sample of the cake packages tested by the group all tested positive for borax. Photo: Quynh Trang

Immediately afterwards, the Economic Police Team of Vinh City Police drew up a record and confiscated 407 packaged cakes to handle violations according to the law.

It is worth mentioning that in 2017, this facility was also administratively sanctioned for this violation with a fine of 37.5 million VND.

Currently, Vinh City Police are completing the documents to submit to the City People's Committee for a decision on the fine. The fine is from 40-50 million VND according to Clause 4, Article 5, Decree 115/2018 of the Government on handling administrative violations of food safety and hygiene./.