Meatballs tested for carcinogenic chemicals

by Phoe Zaw
Thursday, 24 September 2009 01:03

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Burma’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said meatballs sold in Rangoon are being tested to determine whether they contain chemicals known to cause cancer.

“Is there too much gun powder? Is there too much color? Is there any bacteria? We are still testing. We cannot say yet the results of our findings,” Dr. Kyaw Linn, the director of the FDA, told Mizzima.

The meatballs in question are produced domestically as well as imported from abroad, with sellers often using raw gun powder to prevent the product from spoiling.

Dr. Kyaw Linn said the FDA is employing about 500 staff in both Rangoon and Mandalay for testing.

Locally known as "Korean barbecue", the meatballs are popular among residents of Rangoon. A salesperson from “Shweli Barbecue Shop”, on Gabaraye Road, said they typically sell 400,000 kyats (nearly US$ 400) of the product each day.

“One barbecue costs a minimum 500 kyats to over 5000 kyats. Readymade chicken, pork, mutton and all kinds of barbecue from Korea are sold,” he explained.

However, an official from Shweli Barbecue Shop said only the names of companies and phone numbers appear on some packs of barbecue, with no mention of a company address or chemicals used.