Ho Chi Minh City: 3 establishments in Binh Dong discovered soaking banana flowers with borax and bleach

Ho Chi Minh City police recently inspected and discovered three facilities processing banana blossoms in the Ben Luc residential area (Binh Dong ward) that were soaking hundreds of kilograms of banana blossoms in borax and bleaching agents of unknown origin before selling them on the market.

Employees at a banana blossom processing facility reenact the process of mixing chemicals into the water used to soak the banana blossoms - Photo: Provided by the Police.

On July 6-7, the Economic Police Department of Ho Chi Minh City (PC03) announced that it had inspected and discovered three establishments using borax and bleaching agents to process banana blossoms.

Accordingly, on the evening of June 26th, inspection teams from PC03 simultaneously inspected three banana flower processing facilities in the Ben Luc residential area (Binh Dong ward, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly District 8).

At the facility owned by Mr. NTL, the inspection team determined the processing procedure as follows: banana blossom fibers are cut by machine from young banana flowers, then soaked in a 200-liter plastic container filled with water. The container also contains a white powder of unknown origin and expiration date, intended to remove sap and whiten the banana blossoms.

Each batch of banana blossoms, weighing approximately 30kg, is soaked three times in water mixed with an unlabeled white powder before being sold on the market.

During the on-site inspection, the task force discovered that Mr. L. was soaking 90kg of banana blossoms in 3 plastic containers and 3kg of an unlabeled white powder.

Mr. L. admitted that the establishment he owns is not registered and has not been granted a food safety certificate by the authorities.

The facility operated from approximately 7 PM the previous day to approximately 3 AM the following morning. The white powder was purchased by Mr. L. in District 5 (formerly) in the quantity of 35 kg on May 18th, and 32 kg had already been used.

Mr. L. buys the banana blossoms from traders at a price of 8,000 VND/kg, purchasing about 450kg daily. After processing, he has about 220kg of finished banana blossom fibers, which he gives to his wife to sell at a wholesale market in Binh Dien at a price ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 VND/kg.

Banana blossoms are being soaked in chemicals.

At the facility owned by Mr. TKL, the team discovered Mr. L. and two employees soaking 59kg of banana blossoms in two plastic containers that had been mixed with chemicals.

Mr. TKL stated that about a week before the inspection, he bought 10kg of borax to soak banana blossoms in the Kim Bien market area. After purchasing it, Mr. L. used 7kg to soak the banana blossoms.

As for the powdered bleach, Mr. TKL also bought 10kg about a week ago from a store on Hong Bang Street and has used it all up.

Chemicals seized at a banana flower processing facility - Photo: Provided by the police

Meanwhile, at CL Trade Development Co., Ltd. (Mr. PNC, 45 years old, is the legal representative), the inspection team discovered company employees soaking 60kg of shredded banana blossoms in two 50-liter plastic containers mixed with chemicals (white bleaching powder called Sodium Metabisulfite; alum; borax).

Simultaneously, authorities discovered 3 plastic bags containing a fine white powder weighing 2kg (labeled "Sodium Metabisulfite" on the outside); 1 unlabeled plastic bag containing a powder suspected to be borax weighing 8.5kg; and another plastic bag suspected to contain alum weighing 10.1kg.

The inspection team seized 115.5 kg of banana blossoms and a total of over 16 kg of white crystalline powder and granules.

Currently, PC03 of the Ho Chi Minh City Police is consolidating the files and processing the three establishments in accordance with regulations.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tp-hcm-phat-hien-3-co-so-o-binh-dong-ngam-hoa-chuoi-voi-han-the-chat-tay-trang-20250705151815556.htm