VietNamNet – July 18 was the second consecutive day HCM City authorities destroyed materials and additives beyond their ‘best before’ dates found at the Coca-Cola company in Ho Chi Minh City.

Investigation began after information that Coca-Cola Vietnam had been used perished flavourings to produce soft drinks. Inspectors at the HCM City Department of Health launched the inspection and found a large volume of flavourings beyond their best before dates in Coca-Cola Vietnam’s warehouse.

According to authorities, the materials to be destroyed include 13 addictives totalling more than 12.9 tonnes. According to the company’s customs declarations, most of the materials and additives were imported from Australia, the US, Indonesia and the UK in 2003 and 2004.

Hoang Thi Chi, national quality manager of Coca-Cola Vietnam, said that the Coca-Cola factory used old Samurai flavouring to produce 4,961 cans of the soft drink. Some 4,848 units have been sold and the remaining 113 have been confiscated by inspectors. However, she said that usage –even beyond the best before dates on Samurai flavourings – does not violate hygiene and safety regulations.

According to Ms Chi, flavourings past their best before date, but it can be still used for production. The company evaluated the quality of the flavouring and used it for experimental production before using it on the production line.

Director of the Coca-Cola Vietnam Factory told inspectors that the company approved the use of the above flavouring for another 120 days, under the condition that finished products must be stored at 17-30oC.

The company also said that after this, the company would no longer used materials that have passed the best before date to produce soft drink. However, an expert who has worked at the quality control division of several foreign food companies said that this is a rare mistake, but it does happen at a number of companies.

(Source: VietNamNet, Tuoi Tre)