Dye Free Foods: Action To Be Taken Starting April

Fish paste or shrimp paste is one of the most favorite side dishes of Myanmar people, especially in rural areas. For safety consuming of this ever favorite food, officials from the Food and Drug Administration is carrying out rapid investigation for dye free shrimp paste in the market.

According to the records in 2014, about 70 % percent of fish and shrimp paste have been dyed. The authorities said it needs to raise public awareness on consuming dyed food. 

HEAD, FDA (AYEYAWADY REGION), DR. PYEI PHYO: We are now inspecting the fish paste at the market and testing with the test kit whether we can know about dye. We made series of meeting with the fish paste producers and we even go to the working place. But certain operation result has not yet launched. The dye fish paste is more demanding in the markets because the consumers think that it is more delicious and fresh without noticing of using dye in it. We also need to conduct the public awareness about this as this dye can create the cancer and many other harmful diseases. 

Fish and shrimp paste from Ayeyarwady and Taninthayi Regions and Rakhine State are the most favourite for the consumers, and 60 % of them come from Ayeyawady Region. 

SELLER, MI CHAW: I only want to sell the good quality fish paste as Myanmar people are eating fish paste as the side dish. The price may be higher because of high quality, as I want to offer best services to the customers.

FDA said dye free shrimp paste is found in Rakhine State, and the rest are still using dye in fish and shrimp paste. Action will be taken to those who sell dye fish and shrimp paste staring April 1.