Controlled drugs found in food

THE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) calls on the Health Ministry to strictly enforce the Poisons Act 1952 as controlled poisons have turned up in food and drink items.

Recently, the ministry found 21 food products – such as health drinks, candies and premixed coffee – that contained the controlled drugs sildenafil, tadalafil, dexamethasone and prednisolone. Sildenafil and tadalafil are the active agents in medication used to treat erectile dysfunction; dexamethasone and prednisolone are steroids.