Channel NewsAsia 1 Dec 07;
SINGAPORE: The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) says all vegetables sold in Singapore are safe for consumption.
This follows checks at vegetable farms in Sungei Tengah and the Lim Chu Kang Agrotechnology Parks, where red spots were found on crops there.
The spots were caused by a dye released from an RSAF aircraft being tested at Tengah Airbase in preparation for an upcoming aerobatic display.
AVA said the red spots were only found on crops in six farms in the Lorong Semangka area in Sungei Tengah.
The farmers have three days to destroy the affected crops, which come up to some 200 tonnes of vegetables.
Dr Paul Chiew, deputy director of Veterinary Public Health at AVA, said: "AVA's priority is to assure the safety of food, including vegetables. As the red dye is not approved for use in food, AVA is requiring all the vegetables in the 6 affected farms to be destroyed as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our consumers."
AVA said that once the affected crops are destroyed, the farmers must irrigate their land to flush out any remaining trace of the dye.
AVA also assured the public that all vegetables sold in wet markets and supermarkets are safe for consumption.
The Defence Ministry said the amount of red dye deposited will not cause adverse health effects when inhaled or when in contact with the skin.
MINDEF said the RSAF conducted a ground trial which involved producing red smoke from one of its stationary aircraft at the airbase on 23 November.
Strong winds may have dispersed the residual dye from the smoke to the farms.
It is looking into the case and has suspended all such trials.
MINDEF said all reasonable claims arising from this incident will be considered and compensation will be paid accordingly.
Members of the public requiring assistance on this matter can call the MINDEF hotline at 1800-760 8844. - CNA/ir
200 tonnes of 'dyed' veggies to be dumped
Precautionary move should not affect market prices, says AVA
Mavis Toh , Shuli Sudderuddin, Straits Times 2 Dec 07;
VEGETABLE farmer Wong Kok Fah is seeing red these days - hard not to, given that the lush crops of kailan, chye sim and Chinese cabbage of farms in the area are being destroyed because of a red dye.
Normally Mr Wong, 45, would be harvesting his prized vegetables but yesterday, he and five workers were disposing of over 200 tonnes of produce from the 3ha he farms.
'It's such a waste,' Mr Wong said. 'Some of the crops are practically ready to eat, but I guess safety is more important.'
Farmers on five other plots were facing the same heartbreaking task, one that will eventually see 200 tonnes of vegetables dumped.
The farm plots in the Lorong Semangka area of Sungei Tengah were collateral damage from a Republic of Singapore Air Force training exercise on Nov 23.
The elite Black Knights aerial display team was testing red dye used to create a plume of smoke from the exhausts of their F-16C jets, but some was blown over crops, trees and vehicles.
Mr Wong discovered the problem last Tuesday when he saw that his farm netting was speckled with red spots.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) stepped in and told farmers on Friday night that all their crops had to be disposed of.
Dr Paul Chew, AVA's deputy director of veterinary public health, said: 'We have to take the precautionary measure...as the dye is not meant for consumption.'
Vegetable prices are not expected to be affected. The 200 tonnes of produce - about 10 lorry loads - that will be incinerated in Tuas comprise less than 1 per cent of Singapore's consumption, said Dr Chew.
Farmer Tan Bock Tat, 40, will lose 1.3ha of crops but he remains business-minded: 'The price of vegetables is very high now and I hope we will be compensated at market rates.'
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We are in direct contact with the affected farms. All reasonable claims...will be considered and compensation paid accordingly.'
Vehicles were also affected. Mr Jason Sia, 29, unemployed, said his white Honda Civic was covered with droplets.
'I might have to polish it, which will cost $60 to $100. Worse still, I might need to repaint it,' he said.
Four other vehicles in the area were also affected.
Mindef has a hotline for queries: 1800-760- 8844.
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Jessica Jaganathan & David Boey, Straits Times 1 Dec 07;
