Read the article below plucked from The Malay Mail.Liow goes on to allay our fears that these items are not imported into Malaysia.
However if you have a circle of importer and repacker friends,you would know that it would be best to avoid those nice juices,even yoghurts and jams that have a thick body to them since their sources are most times not revealed on the labels.
In case you do not understand what I mean,it is like how the Singaporeans and Japanese import in our products and relabel them as Made in Singapore or Made in Japan.
I also do hope you know that cheap Korean noodles come from China and are not made in the Korean Peninsula.Their noodles have a vegetarian gluten feel and thickness to it unlike most of the noodles imported into our country which are thinner.When you go on tour and are herded into their korean shops that offers cheaper Korean noodles and seaweed by the boxful do bear in mind that you are purchasing made in China korean noodles instead.
Coming back to this latest food scare,the Hongkong government has warned that the substance used could shrink testecles and cause kidney toxicity.The Vietnamese and Pinoys have issued alerts too.
It all came about when the culprit in the storm of a bubble teacup substituted palm oil with DEHP and DINP to cut cost.
If it can affect up to 400 different kinds of drink brands,would bubble tea stalls that get their supplies from taiwan be affected too?
Think about it.
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Food and drink products from Taiwan tainted with toxic chemicals di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) are prohibited in Malaysia, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
Liow said among the restricted products are Uni-President Asparagus Juice by Uni-President Enterprises Corp Taiwan.
Also prohibited are Sunkist Lemon Juice, Sunkist Lemon Juice Drink with Aloe Vera Pulp, Sunkist Orange Juice and Sunkist Orange Juice drinks manufactured by Country House Inc in Taiwan and exported to Malaysia through Sunlight Foods Corp, Taiwan.
"We are also monitoring the market and entry points for food products imported from Taiwan such as fruit juices, jelly, jam, yoghurt and sports drinks," he said in a statement today.
Liow said the ministry was informed by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that traces of DEHP and DINP, which are used to make plastics more flexible and durable, were found in products exported from the country and might have carcinogenic effects.
Other affected products are sports drinks from Taiwanese company Young Energy Resource Co Ltd such as the Speed Sports Drink (600ml), Speed Sports Drink (Lemon Flavour)(600ml) and Dong Nung 1000 Sports Drink.
However, Liow said that the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia revealed that these products were not imported into the country but the others had been ordered for immediate withdrawal from the market.
"The ministry will confiscate tainted products still found in the market and take action under the Food Act 1983 on individuals involved in importing, storing, preparing, distributing and selling these goods," he said.
Liow added that the public needed not worry about imported food from Taiwan as they had imposed control on affected items.
For more information, the public can contact the ministry's Food Safety and Quality Division at 03-88833652/03-88833653 or visit its website at http://moh.gov.my or http://fsq.moh.gov.my/
However if you have a circle of importer and repacker friends,you would know that it would be best to avoid those nice juices,even yoghurts and jams that have a thick body to them since their sources are most times not revealed on the labels.
In case you do not understand what I mean,it is like how the Singaporeans and Japanese import in our products and relabel them as Made in Singapore or Made in Japan.
I also do hope you know that cheap Korean noodles come from China and are not made in the Korean Peninsula.Their noodles have a vegetarian gluten feel and thickness to it unlike most of the noodles imported into our country which are thinner.When you go on tour and are herded into their korean shops that offers cheaper Korean noodles and seaweed by the boxful do bear in mind that you are purchasing made in China korean noodles instead.
Coming back to this latest food scare,the Hongkong government has warned that the substance used could shrink testecles and cause kidney toxicity.The Vietnamese and Pinoys have issued alerts too.
It all came about when the culprit in the storm of a bubble teacup substituted palm oil with DEHP and DINP to cut cost.
If it can affect up to 400 different kinds of drink brands,would bubble tea stalls that get their supplies from taiwan be affected too?
Think about it.
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Tainted food & drinks from Taiwan alert
Submitted by francisnantha
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 23:04:00
Liow said among the restricted products are Uni-President Asparagus Juice by Uni-President Enterprises Corp Taiwan.
Also prohibited are Sunkist Lemon Juice, Sunkist Lemon Juice Drink with Aloe Vera Pulp, Sunkist Orange Juice and Sunkist Orange Juice drinks manufactured by Country House Inc in Taiwan and exported to Malaysia through Sunlight Foods Corp, Taiwan.
"We are also monitoring the market and entry points for food products imported from Taiwan such as fruit juices, jelly, jam, yoghurt and sports drinks," he said in a statement today.
Liow said the ministry was informed by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that traces of DEHP and DINP, which are used to make plastics more flexible and durable, were found in products exported from the country and might have carcinogenic effects.
Other affected products are sports drinks from Taiwanese company Young Energy Resource Co Ltd such as the Speed Sports Drink (600ml), Speed Sports Drink (Lemon Flavour)(600ml) and Dong Nung 1000 Sports Drink.
However, Liow said that the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia revealed that these products were not imported into the country but the others had been ordered for immediate withdrawal from the market.
"The ministry will confiscate tainted products still found in the market and take action under the Food Act 1983 on individuals involved in importing, storing, preparing, distributing and selling these goods," he said.
Liow added that the public needed not worry about imported food from Taiwan as they had imposed control on affected items.
For more information, the public can contact the ministry's Food Safety and Quality Division at 03-88833652/03-88833653 or visit its website at http://moh.gov.my or http://fsq.moh.gov.my/
