The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has just
debunked a viral Facebook post claiming that sweet potatoes from Vietnam
turned green due to Agent Orange.
"We would like to assure the public that Agent Orange is not known
to cause sweet potatoes to turn green," said AVA on its Facebook page.
“Greenish color can be due to a natural occurrence, when the water
soluble pigments in the cooked sweet potatoes are exposed to air.”
"If the cooked sweet potatoes are handled and stored properly, they should not pose a food safety concern," it added.
The statement was made in response to an earlier Facebook post
which said that a Singaporean woman recooked her sweet potatoes, left
from the previous day, and found the potatoes turning light green.
She then consulted a “doctor,” who claimed that the potatoes might
have been contaminated with Agent Orange, a defoliant chemical used by
US troops during the Vietnam War.
AVA also dismissed claims that food from Vietnam was not safe to
consume, assuring that imports including sweet potatoes are regularly
tested for chemicals and other forms of contamination such as heavy
metals, pesticides and drug residue.
“Food products that do not meet our requirements are not permitted for sale in Singapore,” added AVA.
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