Taiwan Food Products Contaminated with Maleic Acid

June 9, Sunday a local news media network in the Philippines (ABS-CBN) posted that FDA (Food and Drug Administration) bans 15  food products from Taiwan and found an organic compound called Maleic Acid,  [1]an organic compound that is a dicarboxylic acid, a molecule with two carboxyl groups.[1] This substance is not used for food additive and may harm our body when intake.

These products are being tested by the AVA (Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority) in Singapore, according to the FDA.

Here are the list of the food products that are being banned  in the Philippines and are NOT registered with the FDA :

1. Hong Tapioca Starch
2. Redman Black Tapioca Pearl
3. Sun Right Indica Rice Powder
4. Top 1 Tapioca Pearls
5. Tea World Tapioca Starch Ball
6. Unbranded Starch Ball
7. Ding Long Tapioca Pearls
8. Sun Chi Noodles
9. T & M Resources Corp Tapioca Pearls
10. Pure Tea Tapioca Pearls (White)
11. Pure Tea Tapioca Pearls (Black)
12. Full Free Green Tea Tapioca Ball
13. Full Free Yam Tapioca Ball
14. Long Kow Vegetarian Instant Rice Noodle
15. Long Kow Rice Noodle with Thick Soup

Consumer Act of the Philippines, RA no. 9711 a.k.a "FDA act of 2009" prohibits the manufacture, importation, exportation, sale, offering for sale, distribution, transfer, non-consumer use, promotion, advertising or sponsorship of any health product that is adulterated, unregistered or misbranded.

Any product contaminated with Maleic Acid is considered illegal.

FDA said that they will continue to monitor the entry of food products from Taiwan in the Philippine market. All consumers are advised to buy and consume products that are registered with the FDA - FDA acting director Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go.

Visit FDA website for more details www.fda.gov.ph

[1]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maleic_acid