Taiwan to Tighten Food-Safety Checks After Additive Scare
Taiwan will tighten food-safety inspections after an emulsifying additive was found to be contaminated with an industrial plasticizer, ordering some companies to certify their products before sale.
The Department of Health has ordered a recall of tainted food, according to a website statement. Manufacturers of five major food groups -- including sports drinks, juices and teas -- need to provide proof that their products are free from the chemical before they can be sold, it said.
The plasticizer, known as DEHP, was found in the additive, the Food and Drug Administration at the Health Department said. The chemical is harmful and is banned from food products. The additive is used in fruit jelly, yoghurt drinks, juices and food supplements, the administration said.
Some food makers have unknowingly used the contaminated emulsifier made by Yu Shen Co., the statement said. Hey Song Corp. (1234) is among companies whose products contained DEHP, according to the administration. The government has investigated 186 companies and 371 products may have been tainted.
Hey Song said it has recalled a food item that was found to contain DEHP, according to a company statement.
Tensall Bio-tech Co. has removed two products containing the additive from shelves, it said in a statement today. Tensall has also submitted other products for inspection, the Yilan, Taiwan-based maker of probiotic and bio-cosmetic products said.
China has started recalls of sports drinks and other beverages from Taiwan found to contain DEHP, Xinhua News Agency said today, citing Li Yuanping, a spokesperson for the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
To contact the reporters on this story: Adela Lin in Taipei at alin95@bloomberg.net; Janet Ong at jong3@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Gregory Turk at gturk2@bloomberg.net
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