Channel NewsAsia - Thursday,
July 12
Closer watch on
salted eggs
Salted and preserved eggs will come under increased scrutiny from
tomorrow as the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) introduces
new requirements for the import of such food.
This is due to an increase in detection of prohibited colourings
such as the cancer-causing Sudan Red in these eggs.
Revealing this yesterday at AVA's Food Safety Awards Night,
Parliamentary Secretary for National Development, Dr Mohamad Maliki
Osman, said that such eggs are to be imported from approved sources
only, with each consignment being accompanied by a health
certificate certifying that the egg products are free from Sudan
Red.
So far, the AVA has approved 17 processing plants from China and
three from Vietnam.
AVA has been testing the eggs for Sudan dyes here. If found to be
contaminated, the consignment will be rejected and the processing
plants suspended from exporting to Singapore.
This is one of the measures that the AVA has put in place to ensure
food safety here.
Just last month, it suspended the import of eggs and poultry
products from the bird flu affected the Malaysian state of
Selangor.
"Given that Singapore imports more than 90 per cent of our food, we
are especially vulnerable to occurrences of unsafe food overseas,"
Dr Maliki said.
"For instance, earlier this year, AVA had to recall imported
contaminated peanut butter, baby food, smoked salmon and trout
mousse. With the bird flu endemic in this region, our supply of
poultry and eggs is also constantly under threat."
Globally, there has been a rise in concern over food scares and
illnesses caused by unsafe food. According to the World Health
Organisation, globally, 1.8 million people died in 2005 from
diseases arising from the consumption of unsafe food.
Fortunately, local food producers are now more aware of food safety
and quality, some 250 companies had implemented food safety
assurance schemes last year. Up till June this year, another 40
companies had joined in.
