FDA asked to freeze sale of Taiwanese products suspected to have DEHP

An environmental group on Sunday asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) not to just monitor but freeze the sale of imported food products from Taiwan suspected to contain DEHP or di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, a potentially cancer-causing plasticizer. EcoWaste Coalition said the freeze should remain until there is documentary evidence indicating the products are DEHP-free and safe for human consumption. “We urge our FDA to take its cue from what the Taiwanese government has done so far to ensure consumer safety from DEHP-tainted goods," Manny Calonzo, a member of the EcoWaste Coalition’s Steering Committee, said on the group's blog site. He suggested that photos and product details of proven DEHP-free goods should be published in the FDA website and in at least two major newspapers before such items are returned to the store shelves. “Like what the Taiwanese did, the FDA should instruct wholesale and retail outlets to, as a matter of precaution, halt the sale of high-risk beverages and foods imported from Taiwan until these are certified as DEHP-free," Calonzo said. The group made the call after purchasing 30 bottles of beverages from Taiwan from seven grocery stores and supermarkets along Ongpin, Salazar and T. Alonzo Streets in Binondo, Manila; and from a convenience store at Matalino St., Quezon City. It noted the Taiwanese government had ordered a recall of six categories of beverage and food products suspected of being tainted with DEHP. Earlier reports said the DEHP may have been illegally added to a “cloudy agent" or emulsifier, a legal food additive, leading to contamination. DEHP is strictly prohibited in beverages and foods. The six categories of high-risk beverages and foods include fruit juices, sports drinks, teas, fruit jams and preserves, food powders, and food or food supplement tablets. Citing figures from Taiwan FDA, EcoWaste said that as of last Friday, up to 465,638 bottles of DEHP-tainted beverages have been pulled out from store shelves. Up to 270,822 boxes and 68,924 packs of powdered probiotics and 28,539 kilos of fruit juices, fruit jam, powder and syrup, and yogurt powder have been removed from shelves, it added. But EcoWaste also noted the Taiwanese government had ordered warehouse retailers, supermarkets and convenience stores to remove all products containing emulsifiers that might contain plasticizer unless they have been certified safe. The Taiwanese government also ordered schools to remove such products from canteens, candy shops and vending machines until they are proven safe, the group noted. At present, the FDA said it is currently monitoring high risks products from Taiwan such as sports drinks, fruit juices and soft drinks "to ensure that they are safe for consumers." — KBK, GMA News