Director Vivencio “Choy” Mamaril of the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS), an agency under the Department of Agriculture (DA), announced that the inter-agency meeting to address the issue of “Synthetic Acetic Acid”-based vinegar sold in the market will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday in the BAFS office in DA Central Compound in Quezon City.
Invited to attend the meeting were The Department of Health’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Science and Technology and its research agency Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and the Department of Trade and Industry.
DOST PNRI scientist Raymond Sucgang who led the team which tested several vinegar brands using nuclear technology was asked to be present.
The study conducted by Sucgang’s team showed that 8 out of 10 vinegar brands sold in the market use the fossil fuel-based synthetic acetic acid which could pose health problems to consumers.
The meeting is expected to set the standards for vinegar sold in the market while at the same time identifying the brands using acetic acid in the manufacture of vinegar.
While FDA is the main agency which has the mandate over the issue, the DA BAFS initiated the meeting so that standards for vinegar manufacture are set and consumers are protected.
In his Facebook post in March 2018, Sucgang said his team submitted a formal report of their findings to FDA through DOST but this was not acted upon.
The DTI, on the other hand, is the agency which has the mandate over products being sold in the market and based on the recommendation of DOH-FDA could order the pull out of the adulterated vinegar from the supermarket shelves.
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