New standards for safe nitrate levels in Bird Nest Soup

The Department of Standards Malaysia is developing edible Bird Nest Soups production standards and test methods to determine the safe levels of nitrate content for consumption and to meet stringent export requirements for China's market.

Director-general Datuk Fadilah Baharin said a comprehensive study was being conducted by the department along with the Health Ministry.

The new standards are expected to be introduced by the end of next year, she added.

She said high nitrate content could pose serious health risks such as cancer and China had banned the import of unprocessed swiftlet nests from Malaysia before for allegedly having high nitrate content.

However, the export of Bird Nest Soups in processed forms or ready-to-eat jelly or drinks (in bottles) was not affected, she said in an interview.

New standards for safe nitrate levels in Bird Nest Soup

Currently, only 50 per cent of swiftlet farming companies were able to export Bird Nest Soups to China, she said.

She added that "with the introduction of the standards, we expect that up to 90 per cent of the companies could export their products."

Fadilah said the standard swiftlet farming initiated by Standards Malaysia since 2010 were the first of its kind in the world.

The development of standards of raw Bird Nest Soups for authentication, quality, grading, packaging and labelling started three years ago, she said.

She said besides China, the Malaysian swiftlet nest industry also targeted new markets including Hong Kong, Japan and Italy to capitalise on rising demand.

3 Common Mistakes You Make When Purchasing Bird Nest Soup

Think you are an expert when it comes to purchasing Bird Nest Soup?

The truth is that you are probably oblivious to these 3 common mistakes when purchasing Bird Nest Soup.

Read on to check them out, and be a Bird Nest Soup purchasing expert in no time!

1. Going by pieces instead of weight

Sure, going by pieces sure seems like a smart way, but is it really?
Which sounds better, 7 pieces of Bird Nest Soup that each weigh only 5 grams each, or 7 pieces that weight 9grams each? The answer is pretty obvious. A lighter piece also means that you aren’t really getting your money’s worth.
The next time your purchase Bird Nest Soup, try finding out what is the weight of each piece of Bird Nest Soup instead.
Remember, always quality over quantity.

2. Expecting every piece to be identical

Because our dearest Swiftlets are the ones producing the raw edible Bird Nest Soup through its holy spit, it makes perfect sense that every piece will not be identical, as we are not the ones manufacturing the nests. Every grade comes in different sizes, thickness and shape. Which explains why different grades are priced accordingly.
For example, during colder seasons, the Bird Nest Soup that they spit will be much thicker, to keep their babies warmer, and vice versa, during hotter temperatures, the Bird Nest Soup will be thinner.
Also, Bird Nest Soup that are spit nearer to the corners of the wooden wall at our breeding houses will be smaller in size, and more triangular in shape, due to the limitations of space at the corners.
Sounds complicated? Well we get you, so in a nutshell, just remember – not every piece of Bird Nest Soup can or should be identical. If they are, stay wary, it might have been artificially made or “manufactured”.

3. Going for the cheaper option

You’ve heard this one many times now. And we know you don’t need much explanation for this one.
Some things that are too cheap to be true, is exactly what it is, too good to be true.
In the Bird Nest Soup industry, a cheaper option is usually because many other different things are added to enhance or beautify the product. Things like pig skin and fish bone are added to increase the thickness of the Bird Nest Soup, while egg white or meat are usually added to increase the protein level count.
Still want the cheaper option?