Blood's nest issue

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is working with the Chinese government to determine the level of nitrite permissible for Malaysian bird’s nest.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said China wanted a zero ppm (parts per million) nitrate level while Malaysia’s standard is 30ppm.

“So, we are still discussing to reach a middle ground on the issue,” he said during a Hari Raya open house celebration at Istana Negara yesterday.

Liow was responding to reports of people masquerading as Malaysian government officials who have been promoting a type of bird’s nest called “blood’s nest” that contains high levels of nitrite.

The 30ppm nitrite level is based on the MS 2334 : 2010 Edible-Bird Nest (EBN) Specification and is also in line with the Food Regulations 1985.

Sweet treats: Liow giving out Raya cookies to nurses working at Hospital Kuala Lumpur yesterday. — Bernama

Liow stressed that the group was not representing the ministry or any other Malaysian government agency.

In a July 26 press conference in China, two men who claimed to be heads of the “Malaysia Export Veterinary Inspection Agency” and “Malaysian Endangered Species Import and Export Administration” told the media that blood’s nest imported from Malaysia was genuine and had an acceptable level of nitrite.