Myanmar’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 14 issued a warning calling for the withdrawal of four food products from the market after inspections found excessive levels of food additives or contamination.

The affected products are Naga Ni-brand fermented soybean paste, Aurora-brand sweet-and-sour plum candy, Nan Twing Thu-brand green chilli powder, and De De-brand orange-flavoured yoghurt drink.

According to the FDA, a sample of Naga Ni-brand fermented soybean paste collected from Myoma Market in Kyauktan Township contained benzoic acid at 3,440.4 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), significantly exceeding the permitted limit of 100 mg/kg. The product is manufactured in Nyaung-U Township.

A sample of Aurora-brand sweet-and-sour plum candy collected from Ocean Super Center was found to contain 4,271.99 parts per million (ppm) of sodium cyclamate, exceeding the maximum permitted level of 1,000 ppm. The candy is manufactured in Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Region.

Meanwhile, Nan Twing Thu-brand green chilli powder, collected from Bwe Chaint Khwin grocery store in Pathein, was found to contain aflatoxin B1 at 42.76 parts per billion (ppb), above the permitted limit of less than 20 ppb. The product is manufactured in North Okkalapa Township, Yangon Region.

The FDA also reported excessive levels of two food additives in De De-brand orange-flavoured yoghurt drink, sampled from Ocean Super Center. The product contained sodium benzoate at 352.72 ppm, exceeding the maximum permitted level of 300 ppm, and sodium cyclamate at 318.69 ppm, above the maximum limit of 250 ppm.

The yoghurt drink is manufactured in the East Dagon Industrial Zone in East Dagon Township, Yangon Region.

The FDA has called for all four products to be withdrawn from the market following the findings.