A dried fish snack sold locally was found to contain excessive preservatives – sorbic acid which exceeded the legally permitted maximum amount in line with local health standards, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) announced in a statement yesterday.
The bureau has ordered shops to stop selling the snacks that weigh 100 grammes and expire on January 10 next year. It urged consumers not to eat them, the statement said, which did not elaborate on the health standards involved.
According to the statement, IAM inspectors discovered the pre-packaged snack with excessive preservatives through their routine food sample testing. The statement pointed out that the dried fish snack contains 1,920 mg of sorbic acid per kilogramme.
The snacks marketed as “Chilli Sesame B.B.Q Fish” are imported from Thailand.
According to www.healthline.com, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers sorbic acid to be safe for regular use, as it is not linked to cancer or other major health problems. Some people can be allergic to sorbic acid, but reactions are typically mild and consist of light skin itching, according to the website.
This undated handout photo shows the packaging of the “Chilli Sesame B.B.Q Fish” snack. – Photo: IAM
