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CHINA hit the wrong item again, Philippine banana
chips exporters said Friday after a newswire agency reported that
the product had “excessive” sulfur dioxide.
Ruben See, Manufacturers and
Exporters Banana Chips Association of the Philippines president,
said that it was locally grown dried bananas that allegedly tested
positive for “excessive” sulfur dioxide, and not the banana
chips.
“All exporters in the world are
using sulfur dioxide for the preservation of dried bananas, although
I’m doubting the report which says we exceeded the allowed limit.
I want to put on record that our banana chips are safe to eat,”
See told reporters.
Sulfur dioxide is used as a
preservative for dried banana chips due to its antimicrobial
properties.
See also said that as of Friday
the association has yet to receive any official document regarding
the problem.
“Our dealers in China told us
that this might be just a revenge after our government banned
certain products coming from them,” he said.
The Department of Agriculture
also clarified that report, saying the issue involved dried bananas.
Xinhua News service earlier
reported that two tons of banana chips imported by Qingdao Co. in
East China’s Shandong province contained too much sulfur dioxide,
which may cause nausea and vomiting.
The report said the General
Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in
China found the sulfur dioxide content of the banana chips were 25
times higher than the limit allowed by Chinese laws on food
additives.
The report said the “tainted”
products will be returned to the shipper or destroyed by the agency.
The news report came weeks after
the local Bureau of Food and Drugs banned the importation of several
China-made products including the popular White Rabbit creamy
candies after testing positive for formaldehyde. Formaldehyde, or
formalin, is a chemical commonly used in embalming.
China earlier suspended the
imports of the frozen chicken feet, pig ears and other animal parts
from a company in the Philippines due to a dangerous bacteria, but
the local Bureau of Animal Industry said that the country did not
export chicken feet or pig ears for the past year.
Philippine banana chips exports
to China reach 6 million kilos every year, while dried bananas
amounted to 10 to 20 tons annually.
--Chino S. Leyco
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