2011 Taiwan food scandal

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The 2011 Taiwan food scandal was a food safety scandal in Taiwan over the use of the plasticizer DEHP to replace palm oil in food and drinks as a clouding agent. [1] [2] The chemical agent has been linked to developmental problems with children as it affects hormones. [3]

Food safety scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness

Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent food-borne illness. The occurrence of two or more cases of a similar illnesses resulting from the ingestion of a common food is known as a food-borne disease outbreak. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potential health hazards. In this way food safety often overlaps with food defense to prevent harm to consumers. The tracks within this line of thought are safety between industry and the market and then between the market and the consumer. In considering industry to market practices, food safety considerations include the origins of food including the practices relating to food labeling, food hygiene, food additives and pesticide residues, as well as policies on biotechnology and food and guidelines for the management of governmental import and export inspection and certification systems for foods. In considering market to consumer practices, the usual thought is that food ought to be safe in the market and the concern is safe delivery and preparation of the food for the consumer.

Taiwan state in East Asia

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a state in East Asia. Neighbouring states include the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the west, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south. Taiwan is the most populous state and largest economy that is not a member of the United Nations (UN).

Plasticizers or dispersants are additives that increase the plasticity or decrease the viscosity of a material. These are the substances which are added in order to alter their physical properties. These are either liquids with low volatility or solids. They decrease the attraction between polymer chains to make them more flexible. Over the last 60 years more than 30,000 different substances have been evaluated for their plasticizing properties. Of these, only a small number – approximately 50 – are today in commercial use. The dominant applications are for plastics, especially polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The properties of other materials may also be modified when blended with plasticizers including concrete, clays, and related products. According to 2014 data, the total global market for plasticizers was 8.4 million metric tonnes including 1.3 million metric tonnes in Europe.

Contents

The food affected includes beverages, fruit juices, bread, sports drinks, tea, and jam. [4]

After two years of investigations, the Taiwanese government levied NT$1.2 million (approx. US$40,000) in fines against 37 companies, [5] or slightly more than US$1000 per company.

History

In mid May 2011, Taiwanese authorities reported that two Taiwanese companies [3] Yu Shen Chemical Co. and Pin Han Perfumery Co. were using plasticizer DEHP in clouding agents the firms manufactured. [3] This was used as a substitute for palm oil in clouding agents as a way to keep cost down and improve profits. [3] However, Wei Te Chemical Co., a manufacturer of clouding agents, claims that "the reason most businesses tended to utilize illegal clouding agents was not because of price, but rather the long preservation periods and esthetically pleasing effect of using DEHP-laced products." [6]

Near the end of May 2011, the Taiwanese government had begun seizures of contaminated products and announced a ban from exporting. [7] Later, the list for government safety checks was extended to syrups, tablets, pastries, and powders. [8] By 27 May 2011, "up to 465,638 bottles of DEHP-tainted beverages have been pulled out from store shelves. Also, 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 yoghurt powder have been removed from shelves", [9] according to EcoWaste Coalition and a report from Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

As of mid June, there are roughly 900 products which have been recalled from nearly 40,000 Taiwanese retailers. [10] Some media reports, including in The Economist, conclude that Taiwan's former reputation as a reliable and safe food manufacturing country has been damaged. [10]

Taiwanese prosecutors alleges that one of the company Yu Shen at the centre of the crisis has used 5 tonne of DEHP every month to manufacture clouding agents which is supplied to food processing firms and pastry shops. [11] There were 95 Taiwanese manufacturers which has used the DEHP ingredient. [11] A further 244 ingredient manufacturing firms had also used the DEHP. [11]

Reactions

China

Chinese mainland authorities banned 812 products from the original list of 22 from Taiwan. [12] This include sports drinks, tea, jam, juices, and other beverages. [12] China later upgraded the banned list to cover 1004 products. [13] [14]

Hong Kong

Hong Kong authorities started monitoring its residents for contamination. [15] They banned two types of Taiwanese sports beverage called Speed. Hong Kong's health secretary York Chow stated that because the ingestion of the carcinogen will be a health risk, he supported an outright ban of the DEHP agent. [15]

Macau

Macau health authorities found the antacid Scrat Suspension was tested positive for DIBP who later issued a notice of recall to local importers and pharmacies. Standard Chem. & Pharm Co. had notified its retailers to pull the product off the shelves in Taiwan and Macau. [16]

Malaysia

Malaysian authorities found some bubble tea products were contaminated with DEHP and the importers were instructed to halt importation and ceased distribution of the products in Malaysia. [17]

Philippines

The Philippines authorities banned DEHP affected products and carried out investigations of importers to ensure affected products were recalled. [11]

Vietnam

Vietnamese health authorities raided and restricted importation of Taiwanese contaminated products. [18]

South Korea

South Korea banned products affected by DEHP from Taiwan. [19]

United States

California-based 99 Ranch Market, one of the largest Asian grocery chains in the United States, took plasticizer-contaminated beverages, from Taiwan, off the shelves. [20]

Taiwan

Ma Ying-jeou has said that the government health units have launched the nation's largest-ever action to secure food safety by checking up to 16,000 food makers and outlets and removing from sales stands over 20,000 food and beverage items suspected of being contaminated with DEHP. [21]

Health officials have inspected over 14,000 food vendors and stores around the island, taking over 20,000 products off shelves. [22]

Ma has been criticized by the opposition DPP for his handling of the scandal. Opposition spokesperson Lin Yu-chang pushed the Ma Ying-jeou administration to come out with a new "D-Day" to combat the national plasticizer scare. [22] The KMT criticized the DPP for their inability to detect DEHP while it was in power. They pointed out that DPP legislator Huang Sue-ying spoke against placing DEHP on the EPA's class-1 control list of toxic substances. KMT legislator Chiu Yi also alleged that the DPP had ties with the owner of the Yu Shen Company, Lai Chun-chieh. Lai's son also claimed on his Facebook that DEHP was not responsible for cancer, contrary to studies that show otherwise.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2011-06-09.
  2. ↑ The Central News Agency (2011-06-04). "Toxic additives tracked to bakeries as scandal escalates". The Central News Agency. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 People's Daily Online (5 June 2011). "Plasticizer contamination triggers food security fear across Taiwan Strait". People's Daily Online. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  4. ↑ Jocelyn R. Uy (2 June 2011). "70 food brands from Taiwan recalled from market shelves". inquirer.net. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  5. ↑ "The Plasticizer Settlement: What it Means for Food Safety" . Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  6. ↑ FOOD SCARE WIDENS: Tainted additives used for two decades: manufacturer, Taipei Times, 29 May 2011
  7. ↑ Whats On Xiamen, Inc. (30 May 2011). "'Tainted beverage' from Taiwan recalled by supermarkets in Xiamen". Whats On Xiamen, Inc.
  8. ↑ Staff Writer; with CNA (Jun 5, 2011). "DEHP scare expands to pastry shops, baked goods". The Taipei Times.
  9. ↑ Karen Galarpe (2011-05-31). "Taiwanese products with DEHP named". abs-cbnNEWS.com. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  10. 1 2 The Economist (Jun 16, 2011). "Food scandals in Taiwan Plastic unfantastic: Tainted products also poison the president's chances of re-election". The Economist Newspaper Limited.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Jens Kastner (Jun 7, 2011). "Taiwan food scare 'dates back decades'". Asia Times Online (Holdings), Ltd.
  12. 1 2 AFP. "China bans hundreds of tainted Taiwan food imports". AFP. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  13. ↑ Jiang (2011-06-16). "Import Ban on DEHP-tainted Products Widens". Xinhua.
  14. ↑ English.news.cn (2011-06-16). "Mainland, Taiwan urged to upgrade joint efforts in safeguarding food safety". Xinhua News Agency.
  15. 1 2 Roland Lim (1 June 2011). "HK health chief urges calm amid DEHP scare". Channel News Asia (MediaCorp Pte Ltd.).
  16. ↑ "Taiwanese drug in Macau found to contain plasticizer". The China Post. 2011-06-02.
  17. ↑ LEE YEN MUN (17 June 2011). "Taiwanese syrup used in bubble tea found to be DEHP contaminated". Star Publications (M) Bhd. Archived from the original on 2011-06-19. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  18. ↑ "Vietnamese officials raid importer of DEHP-tainted food from Taiwan". The Central News Agency. 2011-06-02.
  19. ↑ AFP (2 June 2011). "Ban on Taiwan food, drink after scare". Herald and Weekly Times.
  20. ↑ "Plasticizer-tainted beverages off shelves in California". The China Post. 2011-06-02.
  21. ↑ The China Post (2011-06-09). "Ma announces huge operation on food safety". The China Post. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  22. 1 2 The China Post (2011-06-08). "DPP pushing for new, more effective 'D-Day'". The China Post. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
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