Concerned about recent reports that there are chemical-based sugar smuggled into the country from Indonesia that is being sold in the local market, Cebu City Councilor Edgardo Labella urged the Bureau of Food and Drugs to check products being peddled by ambulant vendors, especially near the schools.
The councilor said that magic sugar or sodium cyclamate, which allegedly contains carcinogen, is widely used by ambulant vendors in concoction fruit juices, pear jellies, ice shakes and other iced products.
“More often than not, the said magic sugar-laced food products are allegedly sold in public schools, markets, plazas, parks and on the streets,” Labella said.
In his proposed resolution, the councilor expressed concern because schoolchildren in public schools tend to be the prime consumers of these food products that are allegedly sweetened by the carcinogenic magic sugar.
“It cannot be denied that the proliferation of the use of illegal substance called magic sugar poses a major health threat to children and other consumers,” Labella said.
According to him, a number of concerned parents are apprehensive that the health-threatening substance might have already surreptitiously entered the city considering the recent arrest of three persons allegedly involved in the use of 130 kilos of magic sugar as food sweetener in Manila.
He cited reports that the chemical-based sugar may have been smuggled from into the country through Mindanao, which is geographically more proximate to Cebu than Manila.
Further, he said Republic Act 3720, otherwise known as the Foods and Drugs Cosmetics Act, prohibits the use of the said magic sugar. He added that the BFAD had also issued an advisory that bans the use or sale of the said cancer-causing substance.
Labella explained that there is a need to protect the children, saying that Cebu City, being the “education center” outside Metro Manila, is home to many public and private schools that cater to the learning needs of thousands of students. — Wenna A. Berondo/LPM