During the on going ‘Month of Action for Food Safety and Hygiene 2011’ launched throughout Ho Chi Minh City, tens of food processing companies and many toxic additives have been found in the market.
Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, deputy chief of the city Department of Food Hygiene, said health inspectors’ tested 23 samples and found additives in three of them. Watermelon seeds and chilly sauce were found to contain a cancerous substance called Rhodamine B, which is a banned food additive in Vietnam as it does not decompose and damages the liver and kidneys.
Meanwhile, inspectors from the city Department of Health discovered many irregularities by violators when paying unscheduled visits to food processing companies.
Dr. Pham Thi Kim Binh, acting chief inspector, said health inspectors’ had suspended operations of six firms that provide processed food for workers in industrial parks along with bottled water. Many other companies will also face penalties as they use contaminated food, banned preservatives and unhygienic processing procedures.
Health inspectors also paid visits to the wholesale market Kim Bien that sells various additives. Shop assistants said they procure products from various sources. The inspectors continued to trace the source back to the production companies. Two manufacturing companies Hong A Ltd. Co in district 11 and Minh Anh Ltd. Co in district Tan Phu said they imported materials to make additives.
However, the inspection team discovered that Hong A Company did not have a certificate of food hygiene and safety. Health authorities in the city have suspended all operations of the Hong A Additive Ltd. Company with immediate effect.
