They magically transformed nearly 50 tons of expired food additives.

On May 4-5, the Market Management Team 12B of the Ho Chi Minh City Market Management Department inspected Hoa Binh Chemical Joint Stock Company (Ward 1, Tan Thoi Hiep Commune, District 12), a company specializing in supplying various chemicals, additives for the aquaculture and food processing industries, and cleaning chemicals, which was in the process of changing product labels on a large scale.




Market management authorities inspect the seals on a shipment of additives at Hoa Binh Chemical Company - Photo: Le Son

At the time of inspection, four company employees were mixing and packaging products branded Mixphos-V, Nonphos-WF, and Nonphos-V using raw materials imported from China with an expiration date of May 4, 2013. Using only equipment such as mixers, scales, packaging machines, and various types of packaging, the company "magically" extended the shelf life of a series of expired chemicals by 2-3 years. The mixed products were then packaged into new containers (weighing 25kg) with an expiration date of January 10, 2015. Remarkably, these products clearly stated that they were manufactured by the company but lacked any information such as: product name, quantitative composition, usage instructions, or storage guidelines.

According to the Market Management Agency, Hoa Binh Company is a large-scale importer and producer of food additives. This company imports or purchases near-expired goods from other chemical companies for processing, then extends their shelf life. “The company buys large quantities of goods nearing their expiration date from the market and then ‘extends’ their shelf life, making huge profits because these raw materials are dirt cheap. The sellers even ‘thank’ them for cleaning up their waste,” a Market Management official stated.

Initial statistics show that the amount of infringing chemical additives, with violations such as expired products and incorrect labeling, reached nearly 50 tons, along with 27 kg of various packaging materials. Of this, nearly 10 tons were products whose expiration dates had been artificially extended by the company. The total value of the infringing products is estimated at approximately 2 billion VND. Market management authorities have sealed and temporarily seized all infringing goods.

It is known that most of the ingredients used by the company for mixing were of Chinese origin and had expired. Food additives such as sodium citrate and anhydrous citric acid are commonly used to adjust pH, prevent oxidation, and preserve food (cakes, starch products, etc.) and beverages.

According to experts in the chemical and medical fields, the use of food additives is extremely harmful to health. Besides the fact that these additives lose their original function, affecting product quality, they also transform and decompose, impacting internal organs. Long-term accumulation can cause stomach ulcers and other health problems.

According to Tuoi Tre - TH