VietNamNet Bridge – Chinese-made fish meal powder has been found with a high concentration of melamine, 150 parts per million (ppm), an official of the National Fisheries Quality and Veterinary Directorate (Nafiqaved) said in Hanoi yesterday.
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| Chinese-made fish ingredients imported to Vietnam. (Photo: Ha Yen) |
However, fish given the tainted meal have tested negative for melamine. Nafiqaved conducted test on 35 samples of the fish, added the deputy.
Early in July, 240 tonnes of Chinese-made fish meal powder in HCM City was found containing melamine.
In 2004, US Food and Drug Agency asked exporters of fish to the US to monitor fish ingredients imported from China for melamine, which falsely boosts the nutrient content of food. Vietnam has done a good job with this monitoring, the deputy said.
The deputy also said that Vietnam imports wheat gluten and fish powder mostly from the US, Peru and India. A small amount of fish powder has been imported from China. However, Nafiqaved has checked up carefully on this amount, the deputy explained.
The amount of fish powder tainted with melamine was possibly imported into Vietnam illegally or was not examined by relevant bodies.
Ha Yen
Update from: http://english.vietnamnet.vn//social/2008/10/811245/