Lahpet - Health Concerns

Health Concerns

A formal dish (small size) of Lahpet contains 200 calories with 12 g of total fat, 50 mg of sodium, 4 g of dietary fiber, 10 g of protein (varies depending on amount of dried shrimps, fish sauce, fried beetle larva (Eretes sticticus, တွင်းပိုး), fried peanuts and fried beans as ingredient) and vitamins (depending on whether tomato, garlic, green chilli, toasted sesame seeds, Napa cabbage, juicy lime or other vegetables are added or not).

On 12 March 2009, the Ministry of Health announced that 43 brands of lahpet including the popular brands contained a banned chemical dye called Auramine O which could cause liver and kidney damage and possibly cancer. This was believed to arise from wholesale dealers using cheaper chemical dyes instead of the traditional food dyes. Singapore ordered a ban on 20 brands of lahpet from Burma, including 8 varieties marketed by Yuzana, which were not declared unsafe by the Burmese authorities. Businesses were hit by a dramatic drop in sales of this popular food considered indispensable at social gatherings and on special occasions. Malaysia also joined the ban, but not Thailand, which also has a sizeable Burmese population.