FDA monitors food products from Taiwan for DEHP

Authorities are now monitoring some food products from Taiwan that may contain a Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an ingredient that may have potential harmful effects on health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cited reports that DEHP was illegally added to some food products in Taiwan to improve its emulsification. "FDA is currently monitoring high-risk products from Taiwan (sports drinks, fruit juices and soft drinks) to ensure that they are safe for customers," FDA head Suzette Lazo said in Advisory 2011-006. Lazo said DEHP is used widely as a plasticizer in making articles such as medical devices, intravenous bags and tubing, blood bags and infusion tubings and nasogastric tubes. She said that while low doses of DEHP are "generally safe," high doses or prolonged exposure can have "harmful effects," and exposure should thus be limited. "Children are especially prone to the harmful effects of high doses of DEHP or to repeated exposure, which can lead to testicular defects, fertility problems and toxicity to kidneys," she said. Lazo also said Taiwan has informed the Department of Health that the implicated material may have been imported to the Philippines by a company. "Efforts to trace the local counterpart of this company are currently in progress," she said. Product recall Taiwan-based news site Taipei Times reported some 167 food ingredient suppliers face recalls because of toxic contamination in connection with DEHP. A Taipei Times report quoted Hsu Ming-neng, deputy director-general of the department’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as saying DEHP has been detected in the products of 47 local manufacturers of food and drinks that unknowingly used the tainted ingredient, all of which have to be recalled. Hsu urged other manufacturers to send their products for tests to prove that they are free of the harmful chemical. Taiwan health officials confirmed on Monday that DEHP had been found in an emulsifier that is commonly used in fruit jelly, yogurt mix powder, juices and other drinks. According to the Taipei Times report, investigations showed the tainted emulsifier products were either produced by Yu Sheng Chemical Co. or came from intermediaries supplied by the company. Hsu said the FDA should be able to track most of the contaminated items within the next couple of days, when the department will again write to the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) under the WHO to report the details. Hsu said he told INFOSAN officials of the incident while attending the World Health Assembly in Geneva earlier this week. The department later also wrote to INFOSAN via e-mail to provide further information, but the group has not yet responded, he said. Food ingredient exporter Poss-mei Corp. said it has notified its clients in more than 20 countries to stop selling its concentrated juice products and await test results. Possmei said it will further inform its clients if the products are safe as soon as the results are available. Some juice products produced by Possmei were on the DEHP -contamination-related recall list announced by the New Taipei City’s Health Bureau on Wednesday, the report said. The company also supplies bubble milk tea ingredients. Among its most well-known overseas clients is Bubbleology tea house in London, which has also expressed concern over the DEHP contamination in Taiwan. Possmei, however, said that the emulsifier is usually not added when making tapioca balls — a main ingredient of bubble milk tea — making contamination unlikely. — LBG, GMA News