Poultry farmers, traders told not to dye their poultry products
KUCHING: Dressed chickens sold in wet markets in Sarawak should all look ‘white’ from yesterday as poultry farmers and traders have been told to stop their ‘colouring’ practice.
Before this, dressed chickens had a yellowish hue as they were coated with a layer of turmeric powder.
Most consumers believe that chickens with ‘yellow skin’ are more nutritious.
But the Health Department’s Food and Safety Division decided to step in and put a stop to this practice following recent news that errant poultry traders in the peninsula had dyed dressed chickens yellow and sold them as ‘kampung chickens’.
Assistant Health Minister Datuk Dr Jerip Susil told The Borneo Post yesterday that he was informed the Food and Safety Division had been conducting checks on a regular basis recently.
The officers went round to ensure that livestock and poultry products from local farmers were not harmful in any way, he added.
“They (officers) collected samples and tested them to ensure all the products sold were safe for consumption,” said Dr Jerip.
Test conducted showed that all the colourings used previously on dressed chickens were natural as the traders had used ingredients such as turmeric and ginger.
“These colouring agents are safe to be consumed. However, we just want to make sure. Some might use other colouring agents that can be harmful to our health.
“As far as we know, chickens sold in Sarawak are safe for consumption. Samples collected show farmers in the state are complying with the laws.”
Dr Jerip, who is also Bengoh assemblyman, however, reiterated that the Food and Safety Division’s advice not to colour dressed chickens ought to be appreciated as it would leave no room for doubts in consumers’ minds.
“Though the colouring agents used are safe it would be better not to use any colouring at all. Colouring not only fails to add value to the chickens, but it would raise the question whether the colouring agent is used is safe for consumption.
“Furthermore, colouring increases production cost. So, it is better if we stop this practice completely.”
Meanwhile, a poultry trader, who wanted to be identified as ‘Tiang’, admitted that traders had been dyeing dressed chickens with turmeric powder, until yesterday.
“I have been a poultry trader for the last five years. Ever since I became a poultry hawker, this had been the practice. However, we stopped doing it yesterday because we were told not to do so,” said Tiang.
He said dressed chickens treated with turmeric powder look yellow, while those that are not coloured, like those sold in supermarkets and cold storage joints, look white.
Kuching South Hawkers and Traders Association chairman Tan Choon Yong, when contacted, urged all poultry traders not to add any harmful ingredients to their goods.
“I am not sure anything was added, or whatever that was added to the chickens are harmful, but I would like to call on all traders not to do it as the practice would not bring them any benefit.
“As traders and hawkers, we need credibility to keep our business going. For our business and conscience sake, don’t do anything that is bad for the health of customers. This will ensure that customers will keep coming back,” said Tan.