After the Warning advisory from Singapore and Malaysia, the Philippines followed Banning the Taiwan Products that contains HO2CCHCHCO2H which is said to harm human's kidney.
THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Philippines banned 15 food products from Taiwan as they contain maleic acid with a chemical symbol HO2CCHCHCO2H.
In an advisory, the FDA said that aside from not being registered in the country, the 15 food products have been found to pose health hazards due to the presence of maleic acid.
"Maleic acid is NOT an approved additive for manufacturing food products," said the FDA.
The 15 Banned products from Taiwan were identified as 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 the long-term consumption of high levels of maleic acid could harm one's kidney.
The health agency said the ban is being imposed in accordance to the provisions of the Consumer Act of the Philippines, and the FDA Act of 2009, which 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, products contaminated with unsafe substances.
"Products contaminated with maleic acid are, thus, considered illegal," said the FDA.
The ban shall remain unless the concerned food products are tested for safety by the FDA on the presence/absence of maleic acid to the said products and are subsequently registered.
"The FDA shall continue to monitor the entry of food products from Taiwan in the Philippine market," assured the FDA.
The ban comes amid the tension between Taiwan and the Philippines spurred by the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in the disputed waters off Batanes last May 9 by the Philippine Coast Guard. (HDT/Sunnex)
With report from Sun Star, Channel New Asia & Silliyal
