Taiwan begins destruction of tainted food

Taiwan begins destruction of tainted food

2011-06-12 00:29:57 GMT+7 (ICT)

TAIPEI (BNO NEWS) -- Taiwan on Saturday began the destruction of food products containing banned additives in Changhua County, the Taipei Times reported.

President Ma Ying-jeou oversaw the destruction of about 12 tons of juice powders that were recalled after they were found to contain the carcinogenic industrial plasticizer diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP). He pledged that the government would improve food inspection mechanisms to ensure food safety.

"D-Day does not mean the end of our fight against DEHP and V-Day is not here yet. We are still clearing out the battlefield. The government will enhance the management of food additive manufacturers and will heavily punish those who violate the regulations. We will work harder to provide food traceability so consumers know what they are eating," the president said.

The Department of Health had set May 31 as "D-Day," by which time companies had to provide certificates proving that their goods did not contain six specified chemicals or else face having their products banned.

Toxic food was also destroyed in other parts of the island as part of a nationwide effort to eliminate the products amid a food scare that started when DEHP, a substance that is potentially harmful to human health, was discovered late last month to have been added to clouding agents used in many food products.

According to local health authorities, a total of 14.516 tons of DEHP-tainted powders, beverages and capsules were incinerated in Greater Taichung and 1.651 tons in New Taipei City. Up to 89 tons of contaminated sports drinks will be disposed of within the next five working days.

The probe into contaminated products has expanded to cover six plasticizers that have tainted food and beverage products in five categories: sports drinks, juices, tea drinks, fruit jams or syrups and tablets or powders.

On Friday, the legislature passed an amendment to the Act Governing Food Sanitation to enforce stricter penalties for the manufacture and sale of food or food additives that are toxic.

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