Consumer associations express worry over Taiwan food products
KUALA LUMPUR: The Taiwanese food scare has the public worrying about their safety. They want the government to order a recall of all Taiwanese food products in the wake of the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration’s advisory that more products were carcinogenic.
Consumer associations nationwide also want the government to publish the full list of products that have been tested and ordered off the shelves.
The New Straits Times was deluged with calls yesterday from readers who expressed their fears and worries, claiming that some of the products were still sold in some supermarkets and retail outlets.
They said more notices should be published in newspapers as many people were unaware of the tainted products and the fact they had been recalled.
Stressing that the public needed to know more about the matter, Malaysian Association of Standards Users chief executive officer Ratna Devi Nadarajan said the Health Ministry should do more to ensure the public’s safety.
“This is not the first food scare we’ve had involving imported food products that are tainted. This involves the people’s health.” Ratna, who is also Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) deputy secretary-general, said the ministry should devise a method to enable customers to identify food products that were safe for consumption.
“In China and Taiwan, food products are tagged ‘free from DEHP’.
This way, the people are aware that the food is safe to eat.
“How are we to identify the safe products if we don’t even know what the harmful ones are?” she said, adding that PVC (polyvinyl chloride) food packaging and containers from Taiwan should also be tested.
The New Sunday Times reported that the latest products ordered off the shelves were Black Tea by Good Young Co Ltd; Lemon Juice Power A by Kakawa Enterprise Co Ltd; and several products by Triko Foods Co — Fruit Jelly/Assorted (210g, 525g and 1,260g), Bear Fruit Jelly Brown (580g), Bear Fruity Jelly Pink (580g), Fruity Jelly N.C. (9.08kg) and Fruity Jelly Bear (9.08kg).
They have been found to contain di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). DEHP and diisononyl phthalate (DINP) are chemical agents used in plastic manufacturing to give it flexibility and it can be transferred to food during manufacturing, packaging and storage.
Consumers Association of Penang president S.M. Mohamed Idris has advised the public to stop buying Taiwanese food products for the time being.
“Until we are sure they (food products) are safe, it is better to stay away.” When contacted, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said there was no need to recall all Taiwanese food products as this would cause panic among consumers, especially those who had bought the products before the announcement was made.
He assured that the public had nothing to worry as the government was monitoring the situation.
“We should not overreact. The tainted products have been recalled from the market. We are targeting the problem specifically. Not all Taiwan food products are tainted, so to recall them would be unfair.” Liow, however, said the full list of tested and banned food products would be published soon. “We are updating the list that is on the ministry’s website.” Consumers can also call the ministry’s Safety and Food Quality Division at 03-88833652 or 03-88833653 or visit moh.gov.my or fsq.moh.gov.my for more information.
A check at major supermarkets and hypermarkets in the city found that the tainted food products have been removed.
Since Wednesday, 20 types of food products from Taiwan have been recalled.
sumber : New Straits Times
Tiada ulasan:
Catat Ulasan