FDA on alert for food, drink from Taiwan

Manila, Philippines - The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) said yesterday it is monitoring food products, beverages and food additives from Taiwan that may have been contaminated with di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP, a liquid that is used by manufacturers to soften plastic.

FDA director Dr. Suzette Lazo said the precaution was initiated following an advisory from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) that “a company may have imported food products containing additives contaminated by DEHP to the Philippines.”

“Efforts to trace the local counterpart of this company are currently in progress,” she added in an advisory. The products that are “high risk” for the toxic substance include sports drinks, fruit juices and soft drinks.

DEHP is widely used as a plasticizer in the manufacturing of articles, including medical devices such as intravenous bags and tubing, blood bags and infusion tubings and nasogastric tubes.

“While low doses of DEPH are generally safe, high doses or prolonged exposure can have harmful effects. Therefore, exposure should be limited. Children are especially prone to harmful effects of high doses of DEPH or to repeated exposure, which can lead to testicular effects, fertility problems and toxicity to kidneys,” Lazo said.