VietNamNet Bridge – Low awareness and a lack of inspections are
leading to rampant and illegal trading of harmful food additives in Viet Nam.
Latest statistics from the Viet
Nam Food Administration (VFA) under the Ministry of Health showed that nearly
16 per cent of food samples from northern provinces and 6 per cent from central
provinces had tested positive for borax. In southern provinces, 17 per cent
were found to contain formalin.
Recent inspections in the city's
Dong Xuan Market found food additives on sale with no record of origin that
failed to meet legal criteria.
Only 5-10 per cent of food
additives used in the country are produced by domestic companies. The rest are
imported mainly from China (30 per cent).
Head of the administration Tran
Quang Trung said tonnes of substandard food additives had been used recently,
and authorities were helpless to stop them from flowing into border provinces.
Nguyen Phu Cuong, deputy head of
the Science and Technology Department under Ministry of Industry and Trade,
shared Trung's opinions, and said it was impossible to employ enough inspectors
to make regular checks.
To make matters worse, a lack of
caution among consumers and traders about safe ways to use additives poses high
risks.
According to the VFA, 12.5, 18
and 22.7 per cent of food samples in the north, central and Tay Nguyen (Central
Highlands) provinces respectively contained volumes of food preservative
substances that exceeded legal limits.
Nguyen Thanh Phong, deputy head
of the administration, said use of additives that failed to comply with the
ministry's regulations could be harmful to people.
One gramme of borax could cause
diarrhoea or vomiting, and 15 grammes could be fatal. Prolonged exposure to
small amounts could result in building up in the adipose tissue, leading to
weight lost and kidney degradation.
Experts said it was time to let
the public know about the potential dangers of food additives, instead of
concentrating on regulations and fines.
Cuong said most traders were
unaware of the harmful effects food additives could have, and should be
educated about their risks.
Thu Mai, a trader in Ha Noi's Ngo
Si Lien Market, said they should be regularly updated about which products they
were allowed to sell and what their legal responsibilities were.
Phong said consumers should also
be made aware of the possible dangers of substandard food additives to protect
themselves.
VietNamNet/VNS
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