Viet Nam Implored to Boycott Poisonous Pork

VIET NAM - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat has called for increased publicity concerning the use of steroids used to produce unnaturally heavy pigs so that residents shun the hazardous meat.

16 March 2012

3 minute read

“This is an evil crime and not simply a violation of law,” the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper quoted him as saying.

An investigation by Thanh Nien found that the use of ?- agonist growth-promoting hormones to raise swine was widespread.

Popular forms of the agent are clenbuterol and salbutamol, which were designed to treat asthma and lung conditions, but only under strict supervision.

The drug can raise the heart rate and blood pressure, causing digestive disorders and various other diseases.

Nguyen Xuan Duong, deputy head of the Husbandry Department at Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said eating pork containing the agent could lead to neurological problems and cancer.

A recent survey by Duong’s agency found a significant proportion of pork contained the dangerous chemicals.

Up to 43 per cent of pig urine and 24 per cent of pork taken from many slaughterhouses in Ho Chi Minh City had the β- agonist, the agency found.

Minister Phat said the situation was “alarming” and the use of illegal chemicals in husbandry must be taken as seriously as other drug offences.

According to Nguoi Lao Dong, the illegal chemicals have been extensively used by up to half of farmers in Dong Nai Province. The proportion is between 20-25 per cent in Ba Ria Vung Tau, 10 per cent in Binh Duong and 5 per cent in Tay Ninh.

A pig trader in Dong Nai said the illegal chemicals arrive from China packed into unlabeled parcels between 20-50 kilograms. Smuggling them into Viet Nam has involved hiding the product among agriculture powders and other legal entities, he said.