MANILA, Philippines – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will release next week the list of “fake” vinegar products with synthetic acetic acid.
FDA officer-in-charge Eric Domingo said they are still testing vinegar brands suspected to be produced not from natural fermentation and biogenic ingredients but from synthetic acetic acid.
The FDA made the announcement following the call of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to release the list of the alleged fake vinegar products available in the market to ensure the safety of consumers.
READ: FDA, PNRI urged to release list of synthetic vinegar brands
A study conducted by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute-Department of Science and Technology (PNRI-DOST) found that eight out of 10 vinegar products in the market are made from synthetic acetic acid and not from natural sources.
The research team explained that vinegar and other condiments from natural or plant-based sources are safer than those derived from petroleum-based sources.
“One can only imagine all the impurities and residues from the petroleum by-products, which can be the source of various degenerative diseases,” said Raymond Sucgang, section head of the PNRI Nuclear Analytical Techniques Applications Section.
The PNRI did not mention the brand names of the products used in the test but it assured that the results of the vinegar studies have already been submitted to the FDA.
Earlier, the DA advised consumers to exercise caution and discernment in buying vinegar from commercial establishments. The department also recommends that consumers buy natural vinegar made out of coconut sap and water, sugarcane, nipa and fruits which are readily available in the market.
For its part, the Department of Health (DOH) said once the PNRI study has been validated by the FDA, they will order the pull out of vinegar brands proven synthetic from local markets.
At present, there are a total of 274 vinegar brands duly registered by the FDA.
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