Be Vigilant Against Unsafe, Dangerous Products - Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino reminded consumers to be more vigilant against unsafe or dangerous products currently being sold in the market, especially with the Christmas season fast approaching.

"We must be careful in our everyday purchase because some unscrupulous traders sell low quality or unsafe products despite the danger they bring to the public," said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

"Price should not only be the basis for purchasing. We must also look at the quality and safety of the products that will flood our market," the senator stressed.

Aquino advised consumers to buy products from legitimate stores to ensure quality and safety.

At the same time, the senator made the pronouncement amid the Food and Drugs Administration's intensified campaign against unsafe products being sold in wet markets.

Among the products being strictly monitored by FDA are products tainted with dye, which commonly used as food color but some of it contain Rhodamine B that can cause cancer.

According to the FDA, dye is used in chili powder, cheese powder, turmeric powder, paprika powder, atsuete powder, kasubha powder, red gulaman and dried shrimp.

Dyes are also used in fish tapa, fish cracker and snack foods, sugar coated fennel, seasoning mix, spices and blends.

In an advisory, the FDA said Rhodamine B has been shown to be carcinogenic in mammalian models while Sudan dye is commonly used in shoe and floor polish, solvents, oils, waxes and petrol, and is likely to contain heavy metals.