Noxious Noodlers Nabbed

[Gray Pilgrim]

Noxious noodlers nabbed
The Phnom Penh Post
Monday, 18 June 2012
Khoun Leakhana

Authorities had raided four workshops they suspected of using a toxic chemical to produce noodles in Banteay Meanchey province’s Mongkol Borei district yesterday, an official said.

According to police, the owners of the workshops were using borax, a toxic compound that can cause nausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain and even liver cancer if used for a long period.

Authorities confiscated 255 kilograms of noodles containing 35 kilograms of borax from the four producers in the raids.

“Cracking down on illegal food-producing shops is yet to be completed,” Mongkol Borei district police chief Yort Sophal said.

Uth Sophea, the director of Banteay Meanchey province’s Camcontrol branch, a government office involved in the crackdowns, said the four shop owners had been fined and sent to court.

Even though borax is banned as a food additive, its use in Cambodia to produce noodles, sausages, dry fish and seafood is common, authorities say.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/ ... abbed.html

You can use borax for ant poison but 13% (the ratio in the article) is too strong and the ants won't touch it. Commercial ant poisons are around 4.5% borax. Borax is also used for welding flux. But my main question is why put borax in food? Is it cheap filler? Does it taste good? Population control? What's the deal here?

[Lucky Lucan]

But my main question is why put borax in food?

It's a preservative, and as you pointed out, it discourages ants.

[Goodoldkenny]

That rate of borax to noodle would render the noodles inedible.
Borax is a salt. It has approximately the same lethal dose as salt too.
Borax doesn't discourage ants, it kills them and their nest mates.
Mind you, I suppose that a form of discouragement.

[Lucky Lucan]

That rate of borax to noodle would render the noodles inedible.

Sure, but at least they wouldn't go rotten before they'd shifted them all.

[Goodoldkenny]

That rate of borax to noodle would render the noodles inedible.

Sure, but at least they wouldn't go rotten before they'd shifted them all.

Yes, that's a fact.
Anyway, they mention that the quantities were found there, not that they were being mixed together.
The 255 kg of noodles could have been the days production and the 35 kg of borax the weeks or even months supply.

KennyF

[vladimir]

That rate of borax to noodle would render the noodles inedible.

Nothing is inedible when Khmers are involved. They eat anything put in front of them.

[Felgerkarb]

That rate of borax to noodle would render the noodles inedible.

Sure, but at least they wouldn't go rotten before they'd shifted them all.

Yes, that's a fact.
Anyway, they mention that the quantities were found there, not that they were being mixed together.
The 255 kg of noodles could have been the days production and the 35 kg of borax the weeks or even months supply.

KennyF

You seem to have the ratios down fairly well...

[TJP777]

Borax is also fantastic for seasoning Bamboo if you are going to use if for construction. Bathe it in borax for a few days it hardens it and keeps it termite (ants) free. http://www.bambooman.com.au/bambootreat ... 20Solution

Borax can also be used for treating Dog Mange (a big problem here in the humid tropics). http://www.ehow.com/about_6504823_dog-mange-borax.html