A message that has gone viral on social media in Singapore concerning 'toxic' green root vegetables imported from Vietnam, has led to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) releasing a statement that the vegetables are safe to eat.
The message, which spread on Facebook last week, said that Japanese sweet potatoes grown in Vietnam and imported to Singapore, turned green after they were kept in the refrigerator overnight and placed in the microwave oven.
The post quoted an unnamed doctor as saying that the sweet potatoes were grown in soil contaminated by Agent Orange.
AVA said in a statement on Monday: "We would like to assure the public that 'Agent Orange' is not known to cause sweet potatoes to turn green."
AVA said that sweet potatoes contain flavonoids (a type of anti-oxidant), and water-soluble pigments which may cause colour changes.
AVA also said that food imports, including sweet potatoes, are regularly tested for chemicals and other forms of contamination "such as heavy metals, pesticides and drug residues". Unsafe food is not imported into Singapore.
