Manufacturers urged to prove safety of starch-based food products

MANILA, Philippines - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given importers and manufacturers of starch-based food products until July 31 to prove that their products are free from maleic acid.

In a memorandum, FDA director Kenneth Hartigan-Go said that all manufacturers and importers of products like starch powder, pearls and noodles are now required to submit a certificate of analysis to confirm the absence of maleic acid in their products on or before July 31.

Go added the memorandum is in accordance with FDA Public Advisory 2013-013 which was issued last June 6 to ban 15 food products from Taiwan that were found contaminated with maleic acid.

The advisory showed that maleic acid is not approved as food additive and using it for a long-term in food could harm the kidneys.

The 15 Taiwan products that were banned were 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 and Long Kow Rice Noodle with Thick Soup.

The contamination of these products were uncovered when they were tested and reported by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore.

Maleic acid is a substance that is being used to make synthetic resin which, in turn, is used to manufacture plastic products, automotive parts and pipes.

Under Republic Act 9711 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, products contaminated with maleic acid are considered illegal.

The law 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.