Monday, August 13, 2007 Banana chips from Bacolod safe to eat By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
NOTHING to worry about banana chips here, said Vivia Depra, production supervisor of Merci Pasalubong Center Vivian Depra and Roth Moleta, administrative head of Bongbong’s Pasalubong Center.
Both explained that banana chips here don’t need food preservatives because it can last for more than two months.
Last week, however, China also reported to the world that banana chips from the Philippines contain a lot of “hazardous” preservatives.
But most suspect that China only want to retaliate against the Philippines after the government here ordered the pull-out of all “White Rabbit” candies from all markets nationwide after the said candy was found out to have formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is also a chemical used in embalming dead person.
Depra and Moleta said the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) occasionally made several inspections in a year and that for every visit, BFAD representative from Manila is always present to make evaluation.
BFAD inspectors stay during the production process and the company must pass their specifications before our permits are renewed, they added.
Depra and Moleta stressed that BFAD had a lot of checks and balances and that compliance are strict and difficult to protect food business establishments also from any legal liability.
Meanwhile, professor of microbiology and parasitology, Antonio Valente of the University of Negros Occidental (UNO-R), said from his long experience inside the laboratory, he had so far encountered non-permissible food additives namely, borax, formaldehyde, rhodamine, cyclamate, coumarin and bromate.
“Take note that these are additives and not necessarily preservatives. Except for formaldehyde, the rest are rarely used,” Valente said.
Valente explained, “Formaldehyde became popular because of the White Rabbit made in China.
Formaldehyde is not a food preservative but a chemical fixative.”
Valente stressed, “I don’t know the reason why the Chinese manufacturer used the chemical in producing the candies. Chemical fixatives are for embalming, its preserves the human organs. It won’t react with food. It is carcinogenic when eaten; see it react with the body.”
“Besides, formaldehyhde is very expensive and can only be bought by gallons. If use in banana chips, prices will soar. I don’t think food factories are using it,” he said.
