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Noodles are now in the spotlight for being dangerous foods to consume. Police in Xi’an, China have detained two people suspected of using formaldehyde to make noodles.
The police received a report from residents on May 20 that a vegetable market in the city was making noodles with suspicious substances. The police detained the shop owners and seized two bottles of formaldehyde and more than 300kg of formaldehyde-poisoned noodles. (Source)
The place said that the formaldehyde keeps the noodles fresh in the hot summer days.
According to the World Health Organization, formaldehyde is a highly toxic substance that can cause cancer and birth defects. Formaldehyde is commonly used as a disinfectant, tissue fixative or embalming agent. It is also found in nail polish.
Meanwhile in Singapore, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said that Taiwan instant noodles have been pulled off the shelves in Singapore after they were found to contain maleic acid. Several weeks ago, the AVA issued a statement alerting the detection of maleic acid the tapioca starch balls used in the popular bubble teas. (Source)
The AVA said Long Kow vegetarian instant rice noodle and Long Kow rice noodle with thick soup were removed from sale as soon as the additive was detected in samples.
The AVA advises customers to return the products to the retailer or discard them immediately.
Maleic acid is not an approved additive and while eating products occasionally would not pose any significant health risk, consuming it in large amounts over long periods of time can cause kidney damage.
