Chili powder samples taken in Binh Dinh Province’s Phu My district have tested negative for Rhodamine B, a harmful dye suspected of being carcinogenic, the province’s food safety agency announced yesterday.
The results were announced after food samples were tested by the Central Food Testing Institute.
Inspectors on January 14 said the powder at factories in My Chanh Commune, Phu My District, tested positive for Rhodamine B, a poisonous dye compound linked to cancer and banned from use as a food additive in Vietnam.
Owners of the factories told the officials they had mixed the chemical with ground cashew nuts before adding the mixture to chili powder to make the color more appealing.
Food safety officials in Thua Thien Hue Province also found Rhodamine B-laced chili powder at the local Dong Ba and An Cuu markets, where vendors said they bought the powder from Binh Dinh.
Chili powder products from My Chanh commune have been distributed nationwide and exported to China to be processed into spices for instant noodles and dried seafood.
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