A Vietnamese company which specializes in producing animal feed was found using addictives that can cause cancer in its products on Thursday.

Inspectors from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and authorities in the northern province of Hai Duong discovered potential carcinogens called Vat Yellow, which is commonly used in the textile dyeing and paper industries, in swine and poultry feed produced by Truong Phu Limited Company.

The substance was added to the products at the ratio of two ounces per metric ton of the animal feed, according to Pham Tien Dung, the ministry’s chief inspector.

Inspectors found 13kg of Vat Yellow at the scene, contained in two barrels with the maximum capacity of 30kg each, Dung added.

Police then sealed the products for further investigation.

Vat Yellow has also been detected in animal feed made by several other companies in the past month, including Minh Tam Company in the north-central province of Nghe An and another firm in the northern province of Hung Yen, chief inspector Dung said.

The dangerous substance does not have any nutritional value besides its ability to bring more colors to the skin and meat of the chickens and pigs which consume it, the chief inspector said.

Examination results showed that Vat Yellow can cause cancer, change genetic materials and be passed through generations, he explained.

Businesses can face a maximum fine of VND140 million (US$6,244) for using prohibited additives and around VND30 million ($1,338) for adding banned substances to its products, according to chief inspector Dung.

Vat Yellow should be recognized as one of the government-banned substances in the animal feed industry as the stated penalty is not high enough to prevent businesses and factories from committing the illegal act, he proposed.

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