China bans banana chips from RP

China appears to be retaliating against Philippine food exporters for earlier moves by the government to ban several Chinese products following concerns about the safety of Chinese made products.

Local banana chips exporters, particularly, were affected by the Chinese government’s accusation that Philippine dried bananas have “excessive” amounts of sulfur dioxide.

Sulfur dioxide, banana chip exporters explained, are traditionally used to preserve dried bananas.

Thus, they questioned the alleged finding of the Chinese government that Philippine dried bananas contain excessive sulfur dioxide.

Ruben See, president of the Exporters Banana Chips Association of the Philippines, clarified that it was dried bananas which supposedly tested positive for “excessive” sulfur dioxide.

Unfortunately, dried bananas are different from banana chips, See clarified.

Even then, See explained further, “all exporters in the world are using sulfur dioxide for the preservation of dried bananas.”

He expressed doubts about reports which say Philippine manufacturers exceeded the allowed limit for sulfur dioxide usage as a preservative.

“I want to put on record that our banana chips are safe to eat,” See said.

Sulfur dioxide is used as a preservative for dried banana chips due to its antimicrobial properties.

See said that as of Friday the association has not receive any official document regarding the problem.

“Our dealers in China told us that this might be just a revenge after our government banned certain products coming from them,” See said.

The Department of Agriculture also clarified that excessive sulfur dioxide level were supposedly found in  dried bananas. Xinhua News (Chinese news service earlier reported that two tons of banana chips imported by Qingdao Co. in East China’s Shandong province contained too much sulfur dioxide which may cause nausea and vomiting.

The wire  report said the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in China found the sulfur dioxide content in the banana chips to be 25 times higher than the limit allowed by Chinese laws on food additives.

The “tainted” products would reportedly be returned to the shipper or would be destroyed.

China appears to be cracking down on Philippine food exports after the Bureau of Food and Drugs banned the importation of several China-made products including the popular White Rabbit candies which tested positive for formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde or formalin is a chemical commonly used in embalming. Philippine banana chips exports to China amount to six million kilos every year, while dried bananas exports amount to 10 to 20 tons annually.