25 years of inaction: Boric acid still in food

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is shocked that banned boric acid is still found in food, in spite of our numerous calls to the Ministry of Health for the last 25 years to take action on the issue.

CAP’s latest test on various types of food such as Bak chang (Chinese dumpling), yellow noodles and Nyonya kuih found boric acid to be present in all the samples tested.

Bak chang makers use the banned substance to prevent the glutinous rice from sticking to the bamboo leaf wrapper. The kuih and noodle makers use it as a preservative.

Boric acid is so toxic that even when consumed in small amounts can lead to poisoning, gastrointestinal illness, kidney damage and loss of appetite.

The use of boric acid in food is prohibited under the Food Regulation 1985.

Yellow noodles and Nyonya kuih that contain boric acid are consumed almost daily by Malaysians. Boric acid is so toxic that even when it is consumed in small amounts, it can lead to poisoning, gastrointestinal illness, kidney damage and loss of appetite.

Eliminating boric acid in the diet of Malaysians will help reduce kidney damage among Malaysians. As it is, Malaysia already has an estimated 13,000 kidney patients undergoing dialysis causing an immense drain of resources. Every year 2,500 people join the ranks of end-stage renal failure patients.

In 1988, boric acid was associated with the death of 13 children and an adult in Perak. It was believed that the loh see fun they ate was tainted with Boric acid.

Surveys done by CAP as far back as 1984 also showed this chemical to be popularly used by food producers and fish-mongers to hide the staleness and preserve the freshness of fish, prawns and meat. Meat sellers are also known to rub the chemical liberally on to meat.

Our previous tests and surveys done in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004. 2007 and 2008 found boric acid to be present in various samples of food products tested.

It has been 25 years since the issue of boric acid in food was first brought to the attention of the Ministry of Health. In spite of our calls to the Ministry to take stern action, boric acid is still being widely used.

Find out how you can avoid some 3,000 chemicals and other hidden hazards in your food in the CAP Guides, Avoid Chemicals In Your Food and Danger Foods