Vietnam: Concerns over toxic dried fruit
The dried fruits, it is alleged contain excessive amounts of preservatives and colourings with carcinogenic properties. The claims that are circulating state that similar products were pulled from the supermarkets in China, due to their high toxicity.
Despite this the same fruits are still being sold in markets in places such as Dong Xuan, Hom and Hang Buom Street.
They were sold at a price of VND60,000 (US$3) and VND150,000 ($7.5) per kilo.
"I like dried fruits and usually buy them as typical gifts for guests. How scary!" said Nguyen Ngoc Bich in Ha Noi.
The Hom Market Management Board says it has informed traders about the fruits, but says it is powerless to enforce fines as the products are not actually banned for sale in the country.
Before the products can be banned evidence must be gathered. Right now the Department of Health in Ha Noi is conducting tests of imported dried fruits to ascertain what chemical content they have. At the same time any dried fruits without labels denoting source of origin would be take from sale.
indication of their origin and manufacturing base would be seized, he said.
Source: vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn
