Food and Drug Administration in Myanmar to open an investigation into nearly a dozen coffee factories in Rangoon. A joint commission established last year by many local organizations such as the FDA, the Consumer Protection Association, Consumers Union and the development of city-Committee has made a surprise visit Saturday to 11 coffee factories in industrial zones in Rangoon according Zin Zin Nwe, director Yangon FDA.
Factories are being investigated include coffeemaker local brands such as Super, Premier, Gold and Mikko Sunday roast. Zin Zin Nwe said the FDA could reveal the lab results as soon as possible, but the process could take up to a week.
“Rumors say that the factories were stirring coffee powder made from coconut shells and tamarind seeds in their mix of instant coffee,” said Zin Zin Nwe The Irrawaddy on Monday.
“Our team collected fingerprints of raw materials from factories and had sent them to a lab materials to see if they contain undue substances,” he continued.
According Zin Zin Nwe 12 coffee factories are registered with the FDA. The research teams were able to score one of the factories because it has been closed.
Maung Maung, secretary of the Consumers Union Myanmar, expressed some doubts about the veracity of the rumors.
“The cost of conversion of coconut shells and tamarind seeds in a similar to instant coffee powder powder is more expensive than the typical process mix,” he said, explaining that a small coffee mix soluble package only costs 100 kyat (US $ 0.08) in Burma.
But the FDA results ultimately validate or dispel the speculation, he added.
According to Article 28 of the Law of 1997 National Myanmar food, everyone who produces, import, export, storage, distribution or sale of food that can be toxic, dangerous or harmful to consumers’ health could be imprisoned for up to three years or a fine of 300,000 kyats.
The surprise inspection was the third investigation by the Commission and the FDA is expected to perform similar actions in other parts of the country. However, many local consumer organizations have criticized the FDA for failing to ensure greater food security, although Zin Zin Nwe also explained that the lack of human resources and laboratories has hindered the efforts of the FDA.
Myanmar Capital 