FDA warns vs unlabeled soy sauce

Manila, Philippines - The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) called on the public yesterday not to buy soy sauce sold in unlabeled retail packs following reports that some soy sauce and other flavoring products from China are carcinogenic.

According to FDA deputy director Nazarita Tacandong, the public should only buy products registered with the agency to ensure their safety.

“Soy sauce and other products that are registered with FDA have undergone thorough laboratory analysis and other requirements. If they are registered, that means that they are safe for (human) consumption,” she told The STAR.

Reports showed that the cancer-causing chemical 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol or 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (3-MCPD) was found in some soy sauce products in China.

The 3-MCPD was added to the soy sauce to enhance its taste. The substance was also found in varieties of mushroom sauce, chicken marinade and oyster sauces.

Tacandong claimed the FDA has long been concerned over this practice by some vendors, especially in public markets. Because of this, the agency had already met with local government officials in Metro Manila to discuss the issue.