by Carol Aloysius
Pots of curd liberally laced with formalin, ascetic acid and aluhunu used to preserve the contents are openly sold in food outlets across the country, including wayside eateries, restaurants and hotels, food officials have charged.
“These agents are toxic and carcinogenic and should never be used by the food industry,” Head, National Poisons Information Unit, National Hospital, Colombo, Dr Waruna Gunatileke told the Sunday Observer.
“They cause blood abnormalities, cough, shortness of breath, blood clotting abnormalities and burning of the throat and esophagus, he warned.
Meanwhile, sources at Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said, unscrupulous vendors were using these dangerous substances as they were much cheaper than the imported preservatives permitted for use under the Consumer Affairs Food Act. “Long expiry dates and a firm upper coating of milk, which does not spill out easily when turned upside down can be proof of curd probably containing these toxic elements,” a food inspector told the Sunday Observer.
Dr Gunatileke said his Unit had also received increasing complaints regarding manioc bites containing harmful foreign material.
“We have found evidence that these bites contain plastic particles from plastic bottles.
“Samples of these chips have been referred for investigations to various authorized labs by the authorities concerned,” he said adding “These plastic particles were probably used as thickening agents to prevent the chips from breaking easily, after being packeted.”
CAA sources said all packeted instant ‘bites’ were now under strict scrutiny following these complaints and urged the public to immediately inform the nearest PHI or Police station if they found any packet of instant food containing such toxic substances.
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