Report: Vendors use banned ‘magic sugar’

Thirsty? Try to avoid your favorite “samalamig" (cold beverage) vendor this time. A GMA News team has learned some vendors of “samalamig" are defying a government ban on the cancer-causing “magic sugar" after making the rounds in Manila’s Divisoria and Quiapo districts. When GMA News reporter Ivan Mayrina asked some vendors if they use magic sugar or neotogen, they said: “Patago, sir, [ang bentahan]. Mabilisan. Saka bawat isang asukal binabalot nila ng dyaryo (Clandestine, sir, and quick. We use newspapers to wrap magic sugar)." Other beverage vendors, however, denied using the banned product, insisting that their “samalamig" contained refined sugar. A few vendors in Quiapo and Divisoria begged off the interview and left. Minutes later, the news team spotted a vendor pouring magic sugar into her “samalamig." “Yung asukal kasi talo kasi yan e kasi mas matapang yung magic [sugar]. Lahat ng garapon na yan malalagyan (Magic sugar is more economical than refined sugar)," she said. The vendor has four containers of “samalamig." A large container of “samalamig" will need at least a kilo of refined sugar, which cost P36 to achieve the desired sweetness. But only a spoonful of magic sugar is needed to sweeten a large container of “samalamig," vendors claimed. They said 100 grams of magic sugar cost only P15. Authorities have traced the origin of magic sugar that is flooding the local market to Malaysia. Vendors in Divisoria said they bought the banned product in Quiapo. Vendors in Quiapo said they get their supply from a stall on Hidalgo Street. However, vendors on Hidalgo Street said they do not sell magic sugar.“Wala na pong mabibili na magic sugar dito (No one is selling magic sugar here)," said one of the vendors. The Bureau of Food and Drugs, in its Advisory No. 0005 dated Aug. 7, 2000 warned against the use of magic sugar. “BFAD hereby reiterates that the use of neotogen or magic sugar as food sweetener is prohibited due to its evidence of carcinogenicity in animals." The agency repeated its warning two years ago. “It is much sweeter than the ordinary sugar and it will take you lesser amount to produce the necessary sweetening effect. But magic sugar is banned," Joshua Ramos, BFAD Director III, said. - GMANews.TV