City discovers illegal use of industrial chemicals in food

City officials are alarmed about food processors’ excessive use of industrial chemicals to make products look fresh, clean or white.

Research conducted by the city’s centre of experimental analysis shows samples of food taken from markets and other shops containing industrial chemicals typically used for whitening or cleaning.

Commonly used foods, such as lotus rootstock, morning glory, chicken feet and snow mushrooms, were among the foods tested.

The chemicals, which make the food appear fresh, were also used for seafood, especially squid, according to the centre.

A 30-minute whitening process could even make stale squid look firm, clean and fresh, they said.

Steamed rice cakes and noodles have also been whitened with these chemicals to attract customer attention, according to Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper.

“Not all of the sellers and processors are aware of the harm and damage of these chemicals,” said Phung Van Trung of the HCM City Institute of Chemical Technology. “They use them to process food and sell foods because others do the same thing.”

The industrial chemicals were used for whitening and freshening foods because of their instant effect, he said.

Magnesium sulphate, for example, which is used to whiten fabric, makes coconut flesh, lotus rootstock and morning glory look whiter.

People who eat these foods suffer from poisoning as well as allergy and digestion disorders.

Kali sulphate, which is used to bleach rubber latex, leather and wood, is used to clean and whiten pig skin and rice noodles.

But the chemical can cause dermatitis, eye and mouth infections and intestinal contractions.

Another chemical to clean and freshen chicken feet and seafood is hydrogen peroxide, which is typically used as an antiseptic and to cleanse wounds.

The chemical can cause stomach ulcers and cornea inflammation. Moreover, high concentrations of it can be carcinogenic.

The chemical used to whiten pig insides and green bean sprouts is also carcinogenic, as it is a main ingredient in hair dye and soap.

Industrial chemicals are being used in food processing partly because of an abundant supply and the ease of obtaining them.

Kim Bien Market in District 5 provides most of these industrial chemicals, according to Lao Dong newspaper.

The chemicals, which are supposed to be strictly controlled and traded, can be easily found in Kim Bien in unlabelled containers.

They were illegally traded and imported, and then extracted before being packaged in different containers.

The city’s market management board said supplies were sufficient for high demand. —VNS