Da Nang authorities have uncovered dried melon seeds containing rhodamine B, which is banned for food use.
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Tan Phat’s dried melon seeds seized at the Con market, |
According to Da Nang Test Centre results, the dried melon seeds sold at the Han Market which are produced by Binh Thuan’s Tan Phat company, include the carcinogenic rhodamine B. Local authorities have now seized the products.
Da Nang and Binh Thuan will cooperate to investigate the case. Meanwhile, Tan Phat owner Le Thi Ca said it is impossible that there is carcinogen in the company’s product because the firm’s products always meet quality standards.
According to Ca, Tan Phat is a famous brand in the central region and some northern producers make faked Tan Phat products to cheat customers. She showed test results from HCM City agencies of Tan Phat’s product from 2002 to 2009. The latest test revealed Tan Phat dried melon seeds only included pigment Ponceau 4R, which is allowed for use in food by the Ministry of Health.
Ca’s husband, Chau Kim Moc, said the firm sells between 30-40 tonnes of dried melon seeds a year in the central region.
Meanwhile, after two days of inspection, Da Nang authorities collected only 13kg of Tan Phat melon seeds at a local market. Retailers said that as they heard about the news they returned melon seeds to Tan Phat.
Dried melon seeds are often packed in 1kg plastic bags to sell at 90,000-108,000 a pack. Melon seed bags usually include a brand name, distributor name and the place of packaging, but not the origin.
VietNamNet/Tuoi Tre
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