January 31, 2007

 

Vietnam eggs get poor sales after news of cancer-causing colourant in poultry bared

 

 

The news concerning the discovery of Sudan colourant found in eggs in Ho Chi Minh City has dented egg sales and resulted to numerous complains from poultry traders and farmers.

 

Bay Doan, the owner of a 50,000 egg-laying hen farm in Cho Gao district, Tien Giang Province, said that the number of sold eggs had decreased by 30 to 40 percent since news was released about the Sudan colourant.

 

Farmers have complained eggs previously sell at VND800 per piece, but it has now dropped to VND730 per piece.

 

The news also affected big egg traders.

 

Pham Thi Huan, director of Ba Huan Company, said their sales decreased by 40 to 50 percent since the news broke out and also resulted to the revocation of signed contracts for their salted eggs.

 

Thi Kim Ngan, egg farm owner in Ba Ria in Vung Tau province, said authorities should bare the names of the establishments that provide eggs with toxic substances.

 

She added that all farms are following strict procedures therefore, adding Sudan in poultry feeds in order to create an egg with a brighter, deeper yellow yolk is impossible.

 

Meanwhile, Truong Chi Thien of Vinh Thanh Dat Company, specialising in processing and trading poultry eggs, said that most of the ducks in the Cuu Long River Delta were raised in fields; therefore, the ducks could not have access to industrial feeds that contains the colourant.

 

As for salted eggs, Huan said the materials to salted eggs were just water, salt and thatch. She added eggs are easily spoiled with a single raindrop, which makes it unfeasible to add strange substances.

 

Huynh Huu Loi, HCM City Veterinary Sub-department head said HCM authorities had asked egg traders and processors to sign contracts with farms to clearly trace the origin of eggs to avoid any contamination.

 

Loi however admitted that locating the sources of eggs faces might be difficult due to lack of information dissemination and proper management procedures.

 

Meanwhile, Bui Quang Anh, head of the Veterinary Department said the HCM City Science and Technology Department--the agency who first disclosed the news on sudan-laden eggs--must also be responsible in declaring the origin and other details of its declaration regarding the harmful colourant.

 

He said their department is still compiling the procedures for inspecting eggs and concerned agencies would take samples for testing after the procedures are finalised