Bak kwa and dried pork sold in Bangkok have been found to contain excessive levels of preservatives. The levels of preservatives found in some products are “alarming”, according to the Thai Consumer Protection Association.
The association said on July 12 that much of the traditional pork products sold in Bangkok, including dried pork and roasted pork strips, contain high levels of sodium nitrite. They added that the products’ packaging did not list the preservative as an ingredient, said Thailand’s The Universal Daily News, a Chinese newspaper.
The levels of preservative found in some products are harmful to people and may even cause cancer, the association said, calling on the authorities there to regulate the products.
The pork products are popular with tourists in Bangkok’s Chinatown, and Shin Min Daily News said that many Singaporeans buy them as gifts when they go to Bangkok. Products produced by Lin Zhen Xiang, a shop popular with tourists, were displayed in a photo of the association’s announcement.
The association said that other nitrite preservatives were also found in the products.
Sodium nitrite is a food addictive, commonly used as a preservative in meat products, but it can be toxic in high amounts.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore has said that travellers are not allowed to bring meat products for personal comsumption into Singapore from Thailand, Shin Min reported.
sinsh@sph.com.sg
