Heavy fines for foods containing borax

Up to this point, no cases of borax being used in food preservation or food processing materials have been detected. However, authorities still regularly inspect, monitor, and take food samples to test for the banned substance borax.

Borax is a chemical compound, also known as Borax - a white, odorless, tasteless, water-soluble solid salt that can kill bacteria and fungi. Because borax has the ability to kill bacteria and prevent mold, it can prolong the shelf life of products. In particular, to make the product chewy and crispy, borax has been added to the ingredients to produce vermicelli, noodles, pho, rice rolls, rice cakes, phu the cakes, jelly and processed meat products such as ham, sausage, sour sausage, fish... to preserve the product longer, making it chewy, crispy, and chewy, creating a more delicious feeling.

When eating food containing borax, the body can excrete about 70%, the rest is accumulated in the internal organs, at some point the amount of borax reaches 5g, causing acute and chronic poisoning, and can even lead to death. For people with weak intestines, eating food containing borax can easily cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and over time it will accumulate in the liver, leading to liver damage and physical weakness. Borax stimulates the nervous system and can cause depression, while the kidneys have to filter out many toxins, which will weaken and disrupt kidney function over time. If a woman is pregnant, borax is also excreted through milk and the placenta, causing harm to the fetus. For children who eat food containing borax, the long-term effects will gradually increase, affecting their development, especially for children in adulthood.

The provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Quality Management warns consumers to be vigilant, detect food production and trading establishments using borax, boycott these establishments and when detecting or having suspicious signs, report to the authorities for handling measures. Everyone, every household absolutely must not use borax in food processing. To avoid risks from borax in particular and other toxic chemicals in food, consumers should buy and use food products with clear origin and origin produced by reputable establishments licensed by the State management agency.

In Article 5, Decree No. 115/2018/ND-CP dated September 4, 2018 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations of food safety, there are regulations on violations of the use of food additives and food processing aids in food production and processing.

Accordingly, a fine of 40 - 50 million VND will be imposed on the act of using food additives or food processing aids that are prohibited or not on the list of permitted substances in food production and processing, with a product value of less than 10 million VND.

Fines of 80-100 million VND for using food additives or food processing aids containing or contaminated with one of the heavy metals or toxic substances exceeding the permitted limit. Using food additives or food processing aids that are prohibited or not on the list of permitted substances in food production and processing, with products worth 10 million VND or more, but not yet subject to criminal prosecution.

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