VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Department of Health has ordered concerned agencies to inspect all fresh rice noodles makers and traders in the city for harmful additives, including Tinopal, an optical brightening agent.

The HCM City Department of Health has ordered concerned agencies to inspect all fresh rice noodles makers and traders in the city for harmful additives, including Tinopal, an optical brightening agent.

Nguyen Tan Binh, director of the city's Health Department, said stiff punishments would be imposed on violators, including fines and revoking of business licenses.

The inspections were ordered after tests carried out in June by the Centre for Study and Consultation on Consumerism found 24 of 30 rice noodles samples contained Tinopal, a banned substance in food processing.

The centre collected samples of six varieties of rice noodles, including bun (rice vermicelli), banh pho (rice sticks) and banh cuon (rice rolls) that were sold at three supermarkets, five traditional markets and a processing establishment in the city.

Results of the survey, released on July 22, showed six out of eight samples taken from the shelves of three supermarkets – Co.op Mart Cong Quynh, Maximark Cong Hoa and Big C Hoang Van Thu- contained the chemicals. Do Ngoc Chinh, deputy director of the centre, said that the frequent usage of Tinopal-contaminated food increased the risk of peptic ulcers and other diseases including cancer.

A representative of the Co.opmart supermarket chain said they had collected samples of fresh rice noodle products from their suppliers on June 17 and July 9 for testing, but found no trace of Tinopal.

Duong Thi Quynh Trang, public relations director of Big C, said that the chain carries out periodical testing of fresh rice noodle products, and so far they have proved to be Tinopal-free.

Le Ngoc Dao, deputy director of the city's Department of Industry and Trade, said that the city has around 400 stores that make rice flour and varieties of rice noodles.

The department would ask all enterprises to have their products tested for Tinopal, Dao said.

Source: VNS