Fifteen food products from Taiwan are banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in an advisory date June 6, 2013.
Maleic acid, an unapproved food additive that on long-term consumption could potentially harm the kidney was found in the products.
According to FDA, the Taiwan government had also suspended the sale and distribution of the contaminated products.
The 15 banned products are the following:
– Hong Tapioca Starch
– Redman Black Tapioca Pearl
– Sun Right Indica Rice Powder
– Top 1 Tapioca Pearls
– Tea World Tapioca Starch Ball
– Unbranded Starch Ball
– Ding Long Tapioca Pearls
– Sun Chi Noodles
– T & M Resources Corp Tapioca Pearls
– Pure Tea Tapioca Pearls (White)
– Pure Tea Tapioca Pearls (Black)
– Full Free Green Tea Tapioca Ball
– Full Free Yam Tapioca Ball
– Long Kow Vegetarian Instant Rice Noodle
– Long Kow Rice Noodle with Thick Soup
The FDA said that the ban shall continue to remain in force and in effect until such time that these products are first registered in the country by an FDA-licensed food establishment with proper testing.
It is written in Article 10 of Republic Act 7394, the “Consumer Act of the Philippines,” and Section 10 of Republic Act 9711, the “FDA Act of 2009,” which prohibits the importation and sale of any health product that is “adulterated, unregistered or misbranded, products contaminated with maleic acid are considered illegal.”
Meanwhile, Malacanang cleared that there are no politics involved in the banning of 15 food products from Taiwan.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the products underwent into tests, which the FDA decided and has nothing to do with the present situation with Taiwan.
He explained that the main concern of the government is for the safety and to look out for the health of all Filipinos.
The issue with Taiwan originated from the May 9 killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by Philippine Coast Guard personnel in disputed waters off northern Philippines.
