FDA to update list of vinegar brands with synthetic acetic acid weekly

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday said it set to update weekly the list of vinegar brands found to contain synthetic acetic acid, should more brands test positive.

"If we find more then we will add it to the list. And we will update it weekly - only if there are more findings," FDA officer-in-charge Eric Domingo said in a text message.

His remarks come after the FDA on Tuesday announced that five out of the 39 commonly used vinegar brands in the country were found to contain synthetic acetic acid.

Through the testing of the Permanganate Oxidation Number (PON), samples of the following brands were found positive for synthetic acetic acid:

• Surebuy Cane Vinegar (Best Before Date: 26 03 21)
• Tentay Pinoy Style Vinegar (Best Before Date: 03 18 21)
• Tentay Premium Vinegar (Batch/Lot No. TV SEP0718AC)
• Tentay Vinegar ‘Sukang Tunay Asim’ (Expiry Date 06 06 20)
• Chef’s Flavor Vinegar (Expiry Date 01APR21)

Rustan's Supermarket has since ordered the recall of its housebrand Surebuy Cane Vinegar, while Tentay Food Sauces Inc. said it will discuss and clarify the issue with the FDA this week.

The FDA has since clarified, however, that such brands were only deemed as substandard, but do not pose a safety issue or any health risk to consumers.

"The presence of synthetic acetic acid merely represents that the vinegar did not undergo fermentation, either through a slow process, quick process, or submerged culture process which is used for commercial vinegar production," it said.

According to Domingo, the FDA is still testing other vinegar brands for synthetic acetic acid, but information on the tests was not immediately available on Wednesday. — RSJ, GMA News