Thailand pork industry hit by preservative scare

'Value For Money For People Magazine' and the Food Alert System for Thai Consumers randomly selected pork sausage samples from seven supermarket networks and found a high level of toxic substances.

Twenty six samples from 23 brands of pork sausages were selected from leading supermarkets as well as provincial fresh markets. The test results showed high Benzoic and Sulfite preservatives as well as food coloring which are prohibited by the Public Health Ministry. All of the sausage brands that contained preservatives failed to state the preservatives mixture on the label.

The use of Benzoic and Sulfite preservatives in sausages is strictly prohibited unless approval is granted by the Food and Drug Administration. However, Nitrates and Nitrites in food preservations are allowed provided that the mixture contains no more than 125 mg of total nitrite and nitrate per kg.