Manila, Philippines --- The Philippines yesterday banned 15 food products from Taiwan after the Singapore government found these to contain maleic acid, which "is not an approved additive for manufacturing food products" and could harm the kidney.
Acting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Kenneth Hartigan-Go issued an advisory that "long-term consumption of high levels of maleic acid could harm the kidney."
The FDA noted these Taiwanese products are not also registered with the FDA.
"The ban shall continue to remain in force and in effect until such time that these products are first registered in the country by an FDA-licensed food establishment with proper testing of presence/absence of maleic acid to the said products," the FDA advisory said.
source yahoo:
PH bans 15 maleic acid-laced food products from Taiwan
As of June 7, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said it has detected maleic acid in 18 imported food products from Taiwan.
"AVA has informed the importers of the affected products to withdraw them from sale immediately and withdrawal has been completed. We are continuing with our surveillance of products from Taiwan to ensure that they do not contain maleic acid," the Singapore agency said.
The FDA said it is banning the following Taiwanese food products in the country: Hong Tapioca Starch, Redman Black Tapioca Pearl, Sun Right Indica Rice Powder, Top 1 Tapioca Pearls, Tea World Tapioca Starch Ball, Unbranded Starch Ball, Ding Long Tapioca Pearls, Sun Chi Noodles, T & M Resources Corp Tapioca Pearls, Pure Tea Tapioca Pearls (White), Pure Tea Tapioca Pearls (Black), Full Free Green Tea Tapioca Ball, Full Free Yam Tapioca Ball, Long Kow Vegetarian Instant Rice Noodle and Long Kow Rice Noodle with Thick Soup. Tapioca starch balls are used in the popular bubble tea drinks.
"The FDA shall continue to monitor the entry of food products from Taiwan in the Philippine market. All consumers are advised to buy and consume products that are registered with the FDA," the FDA said.
"Pursuant to Article 10, entitled "Injurious, Dangerous and Unsafe Products," of Republic Act (RA) 7394, or the "Consumer Act of the Philippines," and Section 10 of RA No. 9711, or "FDA Act of 2009," the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising, or sponsorship of any health product that is adulterated, unregistered or misbranded, products contaminated with maleic acid are considered illegal," the advisory added.
The document said the Taiwan government has taken action against the erring food manufacturers and suspended the sale and distribution of maleic acid-contaminated products.
In an advisory posted on its website on May 30, Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration said, "public health bureaus nationwide have completed an overall investigation and found one wholesaler and three distributors of maleic anhydride, as well as eight manufacturers and 16 retailers who manufactured or sold starch containing maleic anhydride."
It said 206 tons of products that violated regulations were recalled, taken off shelves, sealed and stored and would be destroyed in a week.
The Taiwan FDA said public health bureaus will inspect manufacturers and distributors of starch to "ensure that all products that violate the regulations have been recalled and there is no illegal product that has been newly manufactured."
It added that all suppliers of starch raw materials must provide safety certificate to sellers of products containing starch raw materials, including flat rice noodles, round meat dumplings, oden, tapioca balls, tofu puddings, rice cakes, taro and sweet potato dumplings.
"From June 1 onwards, public health bureaus nationwide will launch an overall inspection. Those who are found to fail to provide a certificate or who have provided a false certificate, in addition to being found that their raw materials violate the regulations, will receive heavier punishment," it said.
It added that amendments to Taiwan's Act Governing Food Sanitation will be expedited "and heavier penalties and responsibilities will be imposed on business operators."
"Rewards for reporting major food safety events will increase, and all citizens are encouraged to participate, in order to stop food safety violations," it said.
Go said they will continue to monitor the entry of food products from Taiwan in the Philippine market. FDA authorities advised consumers to patronize and consume products that are registered with FDA. (With a report by Jenny Manongdo)
PH bans 15 maleic acid-laced food products from Taiwan
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