Fish Sauce Samples Have Safe Levels of Inorganic Arsenic: Vietnam Ministry

The inorganic arsenic content in 247 tested fish sauce sample is within the permitted levels, said Vietnam’s Ministry of Health. The 247 fish sauce samples were taken from 82 traditional and industrial brands, in five cities and provinces: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces. Results show that all samples do not have inorganic forms exceeding permitted levels. The ministry confirmed that production facilities do not produce fish sauce using water and chemicals, instead using fish, salt or fish sauce mash liquor, and food additives. Heavy metals such as sinker, mercury and cadmium in the fish sauce samples meet MoH standards, as do food additives used. The ministry also said that recent reports of fish sauce containing arsenic are inaccurate and have affected fish sauce production around the country. Arsenic is divided into organic and inorganic forms. The permitted level of inorganic arsenic in fish sauce under MoH standards is 1 mg/liter. The organic form is not harmful to human health. The Vietnam Standards and Consumers Association (Vinastas) announced on Oct 17 that a survey it conducted nationally found that most fish sauce has arsenic contents exceeding permitted levels. Vinastas said that in 150 samples of 88 fish sauce brands tested, the arsenic content in 101 samples was higher than the permitted 1 mg/liter, with some having as much as 5 mg/liter. Vinastas, however, failed to explain that arsenic comes in organic and inorganic forms and its report has created a great deal of misunderstanding about arsenic levels. (vneconomictimes.com Oct 24)