BANGKOK – Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found the harmful content of nitrate and benzoic acid in sausages and blamed them for causing illness in many children who ate such substandard products.
FDA deputy secretary-general Weerachai Nolwachai said his organisation took action after the Poison Centre of Ramathibodi Hospital found 14 children suffering from methemoglobinemia after consuming unbranded sausages in eight provinces namely Chiang Mai, Phetchaburi, Saraburi, Trang, Phayao, Songkhlra, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Kanchanaburi, Thai news agency (TNA) reported.
It added that officials of the FDA and the Public Health Ministry collected 102 samples of sausages nationwide.
The examination was concluded with 44 samples, 22 of which were substandard, Weerachai said, adding that their producers were facing legal action.
The FDA found harmful levels of nitrate used as a preservative and also benzoic acid that was banned from use in sausages, he said.
The safe threshold of nitrate used in food was set at 80 mg per kg of food. Those who used benzoic acid in food were liable to a fine of up to 20,000 baht (RM2,500), he said. – Bernama, March 14, 2022
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