Vinegar from synthetic acetic acid carcinogenic? PNRI says it's an 'assumption'

The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) clarified on Monday that it did not tag vinegar brands made from synthetic acetic acid as carcinogenic,according to a report by Raffy Tima on GMA News' 24 Oras.

"It's an assumption. The only apprehension is when you are using non-food grade acetic acid, industrial grade which may contain residues," said Raymond Sucgang, head of Nuclear Analytical Technic Application Section.

The PNRI recently released a report which showed that 15 out of 17 brands of vinegar sold in major supermarkets in the Philippines are made from cancer-causing synthetic acetic acid.

Sugcang previously explained that synthetic acetic acid is not advisable for consumption.

"Ang synthetic acetic acid ay hindi dapat ginagamit sa paggawa ng pagkain or condiment, kundi ito is intended as a raw material for the production of vinyl acetate...ito 'yung parang nakikita nating...kapag you want to waterproof your wood parquet 'yung mga tiles na wood," Sucgang said.

"If you consume this because it is synthetic material in the process of synthesis, there are impurities na nandoon, and these impurities, according to mga journals, these can cause cancer and degenerative diseases like Parkinson's," he added.

However, after a deliberation of experts from the PNRI, Department of Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, and Food and Drug Administration, it was concluded that there was no reason to directly imply that synthetic acetic acid is a carcinogen.

"There has never been any reason to think that acetic acid from synthetic sources or non biogenic sources is carcinogenic or toxic as compared to its biogenic counterparts wala talaga data nun whatsoever," said biochemist and toxicologist Prof. Flerida Cariño.

The Food and Drug Administration said it will study the PNRI report and test the vinegar brands included therein but added that a recall of the products is not necessary since the use of synthetic acetic acid was not proven as harmful to health. —Dona Magsino/LDF/KBK, GMA News