Tuesday, June 17, 2008 Trader found selling 'unfortified' flour
A FLOUR trader faces possible closure for selling unfortified imported flour.
The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD)-Southern Mindanao said YASW Enterprises has been selling imported flour, which does not subscribe to its fortification standards.
The company was identified as a certain YASW Enterprises, which BFAD-Southern Mindanao said has been selling imported flour, which does not subscribe to the fortification standards set forth by the bureau.
"It does not have Vitamin A fortification and its Iron fortification is not in consonance with the amount required by the agency," Arnold Alindada of the BFAD-Southern Mindanao told reporters in Monday's Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao's Cafe Rysus.
Alindada said the local business bureau could impose sanctions as severe as the foreclosure of the establishment due to its violation of a national law, the Food Fortification Law or Republic Act 8976.
The YASW Enterprises was reported to the Food Fortification Task Force last month.
A surprise inspection of the Task Force yielded unmarked flours, which was imported.
A sample of the flour was sent to the BFAD central office for laboratory tests.
"The trader told us that they have already shipped it back to the importer, but we have yet to receive a document proving that it was already shipped back, otherwise the business bureau will act on them," Alindada said.
On the other hand, another business establishment may face the same fate if its flour samples would also yield results that are not compliant with the BFAD standards on food fortification.
Alindada said MSST Enterprises, also located in the same vicinity, has also been reported to be selling flour of dubious quality. (CPM)
