FDA takes close look at Turkish, Vietnamese flour

THE FOOD and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking a close look at the quality of Turkish and Vietnamese flour available in the market following tests allegedly showing the presence of yeast beyond the accepted level set by the regulatory body.

Health Secretary Janette Garin, FDA acting director general, said the results of the investigation will be available this week.

The FDA’s action came after the Philippine Association of Flour Millers Inc. (Pafmil) presented test results conducted by SGS, a global testing, verification and certification company, on samples of two brands of flour from Turkey and Vietnam.

In a letter to Garin dated Oct. 6, Pafmil showed the SGS analysis indicating that samples from Turkish brand Metro Star had a yeast count of 2,200 cfu/g (colony-forming units per gram) while specimens from Vietnamese flour Gold Crescent registered 1,800 cfu/g.

The figures were way beyond the 100 cfu/g limit set by the FDA under Circular No. 2013-2010, the Revised Guidelines for the Assessment of Microbiological Quality of Processed Food, Pafmil said.