By Huang Jingjing
Edible bird's nests from Malaysia have been taken off shelves after Zhejiang authorities found them to have excessive amounts of toxic nitrites.
A total of 200 kilograms of blood-red cubilose from 491 dealers in a field inspection were found to be toxic, with an average nitrite content of 4,400 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), far exceeding the national legal limit of 30 mg/kg, the Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce said in an online statement.
Edible bird's nest comes from the hardened saliva of swallows and is considered a high-end health food with organic nutrients. Malaysia is a major producer and exporter. The blood-red cubilose is said to be the most nutritious, but many insiders challenge such claims.
Edible bird's nest comes from the hardened saliva of swallows and is considered a high-end health food with organic nutrients. Malaysia is a major producer and exporter. The blood-red cubilose is said to be the most nutritious, but many insiders challenge such claims.
The Malaysian Federation of Bird's Nest Merchants Chairman Beh Heng Seong said the rumor was forged by businessmen who want to push the price higher.
"Blood bird's nests are specially made when the accumulation of swallow feces in caves cause the bird's nest to change in color," Beh told the Kuala Lumpur-based Sin Chew Daily in June.
Some swallow breeders deliberately add nitrites to create the blood bird's nests, which can pose a health risk, he said.
Excessive nitrite intake can cause stomach and intestine disorder and increase the risk of cancer. As many as 0.2-0.5 grams of nitrite can be poisonous, and 3 grams can be fatal.
"Blood bird's nests are specially made when the accumulation of swallow feces in caves cause the bird's nest to change in color," Beh told the Kuala Lumpur-based Sin Chew Daily in June.
Some swallow breeders deliberately add nitrites to create the blood bird's nests, which can pose a health risk, he said.
Excessive nitrite intake can cause stomach and intestine disorder and increase the risk of cancer. As many as 0.2-0.5 grams of nitrite can be poisonous, and 3 grams can be fatal.
Wu Zhaobei, a bird's nest sales manager in Beijing, told the Global Times the vendors aren't the bad guys.
"We are also victims. The trader who sold the products to us had licenses and quality certificates," Wu said. "But we were negligent in not testing the nests before trading."
The wholesale price of the best bird's nests is 20 yuan ($3.12) per gram, but the price tag for consumers can be up to 100 yuan, according to Wu.
Malaysian Deputy Agriculture Minister Chua Tee Yong said earlier there are few real red bird's nests on the market, all so-called blood bird's nest on the Malaysian market have been dyed, Sin Chew Daily reported.
The Zhejiang authority also said all the substandard nests would be destroyed collectively and pledged to actively help consumers deal with their complaints and punish those selling inferior health products.
"We are also victims. The trader who sold the products to us had licenses and quality certificates," Wu said. "But we were negligent in not testing the nests before trading."
The wholesale price of the best bird's nests is 20 yuan ($3.12) per gram, but the price tag for consumers can be up to 100 yuan, according to Wu.
Malaysian Deputy Agriculture Minister Chua Tee Yong said earlier there are few real red bird's nests on the market, all so-called blood bird's nest on the Malaysian market have been dyed, Sin Chew Daily reported.
The Zhejiang authority also said all the substandard nests would be destroyed collectively and pledged to actively help consumers deal with their complaints and punish those selling inferior health products.
The original article is here.
