BANGKOK, DEC 13 (TNA) – Five producers of bird’s nest
beverages in Thailand have their licenses suspended after lab tests show their
products are made of tree gum.
Instead of using edible solidified saliva, the five bird’s
nest drink makers either solely used tree gums or mixed the innutritious
substance with real bird’s nest, police and Food and Drug Administration
officials, said in a press briefing on Thursday.
FDA director Supatra Boonserm said the five companies had
been suspended pending license revocations.
Pol Maj-General Sithatketh Kruwatanaseth, Consumer
Protection Police Division chief, said the companies had been charged with
falsifying product label and illegally manufacturing artificial food.
These companies are reportedly operated by nominees of
Chinese nationals. Their products were
mainly sold to Chinese tourists.
The scandals created fears of negative impacts on other
companies in this lucrative business. A
jar of one of the fake bird nest products cost around Bt300 to produce but sold
at about Bt2,000, according to officials.(TNA)
