Taiwanese syrup used in bubble tea found to be DEHP contaminated

PETALING JAYA: A Taiwanese product commonly used in bubble tea drinks sold in the Klang Valley has been found to be contaminated with the cancer-causing plastic additive diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The product 'Strawberry Syrup' manufactured by T & M Resources Corporation and imported by Elegant Solution Trading cannot be sold in the market.

Two other products suspected of being DEHP-tainted were Chuang's Square Cookies (the brown sugar, all wheat, almond and sesame variants) and the Natural Beauty Drink Powder and Natural Beauty Fruit and Vegetable Powder, he said in a statement released Friday.

The manufacturers for the products were Chuang's King Tai Chang Food Co. Ltd and Prince Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, respectively, while the importers were Syarikat Nguan Seng (1990) Sdn Bhd and Billion Synergy Sdn Bhd respectively.

“The ministry has instructed the companies concerned to recall their products immediately, while samples of the products have been taken for analysis.

“Meanwhile, all retailers have been advised to halt sales of the food products with immediate effect.

“Customers who have bought the products are advised not to consume them,” Liow said.

Separately, a total of 15 food products from Taiwan were tested and found to be free of contamination.

They are New Choice Pudding; Lychee Syrup, Honey Peach Syrup and Black Tea (all imported by Elegant Solution Trading); 100% Cranberry & Blueberry Blend Juice and Power Bifidus Yogurt Drink (imported by United Kanboo (M) Sdn Bhd); Kinohimitsu Japan D'tox Juice; and eight Cosway Oriyen products including the Fibre Full Candy, American Ginseng Pastills, Extra Cool Fresh Mints, Pei Pa Luo Han Guo, Hi-Calcium Yoghurt Chews, Mixed Vinegar, D'Tox Trimm and Cranberry Chewable Tablets.

Other food products listed under other categories that were also found free of DEHP contamination were Singlong Ho Egg Noodle; HO I Dried Noodle, Fu ssu Noodle, and White Jade Noodle; Greenmax Matcha Milk, MIC's Taiwan Lemon Wafer, Fu Yi Shan Oat Cracker, Regimen House Sesame & Grainy Thin Cracker and Sun Chi Song Hua Ban Noodles.

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