Aflatoxin found in Dankotuwa bowsers

Carcinogenic coconut oil

Media Spokesman for Customs, Sudantha Silva yesterday said that the carcinogenic, aflatoxin, had been detected in coconut oil samples taken from two bowsers taken into custody in Dankotuwa on 31 March.

Silva said that the test had been conducted by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute. Two more samples were sent to the Government Analyst and the Occupational Health and Food Safety Unit of the Health Ministry and the customs are waiting for these two tests reports to be out as well.

The two bowsers were seized by Dankotuwa Police and handed over to the Customs on 31 March.

“The drivers of the bowsers were arrested. The owners of the land where the trucks were hidden as well as the traders who are responsible for the imports had been questioned, Customs Director General Major General G. Vijitha Ravipriya said.