Economy

Mainland recalls Taiwan's possibly tainted drinks

By Li Yao (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-28 14:14

There should also be a viable compensation scheme that promises to pay for possible future damages on the basis of recognized health risks, but it remains unclear which parties - including manufacturers and suppliers from Taiwan and importers and distributors from the mainland - should foot the bill, Sang said.

Wu Yixiu, a campaigner at Greenpeace China, told China Daily the unfolding beverage contamination scandal in Taiwan involved the same substance, DEHP, that Greenpeace recently identified as carrying serious health risks in plastic toys for children.

Safety concerns of DEHP exposure include hormone malfunction, reproductive toxicity and genital abnormalities in babies, especially boys, Wu said.

Related readings:  China mulls banning BPA in baby bottles  Harsher punishment on food safety crimes

The European Union has announced restrictions on the production and use of DEHP in the region, which will come into effect within three to five years, while China has yet to set a timetable, she said.

Taiwan's health authorities announced on May 23 that DEHP had been found in some bottled beverages and dairy products, and has demanded 168 food processors recall more than 1 million tainted items.

The toxic additive was supplied by Yu Shen Chemical Co, whose owner, Lai Chun-chieh, 57, has been detained by prosecutors pending further investigation, according to earlier reports.

The disturbing discovery has sent shock waves outside the island. Hong Kong residents have been warned to stop drinking sports drinks imported from Taiwan, the special administrative region's Center for Food Safety said in a statement on Wednesday

Kang Jan-jou, a top official of Taiwai's food and drug administration, said his agency had informed the World Health Organization and health authorities of importers of the tainted products including the mainland, Vietnam and the United States.