by magnolia_eic | May 30, 2011 | Headlines, National News
THE government is closely monitoring food products and additives imported from Taiwan that
might be contaminated with a chemical harmful when taken in high doses.
Food and Drug Administration Director Suzette H. Lazo said the agency was on the lookout for
food products from Taiwan that might contain the chemical Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP).
“The Taiwan government has informed the Department of Health that a company may have
imported food products containing additives contaminated by DEHP to the Philippines,” Lazo said
in a statement.
While the FDA statement did not cite any specific food products, officials in Taiwan, which is
going through a food scare, said the problem was confined to sports drinks, fruit juices, teas, fruit
jams and preserves, food powders and food supplement tablets.
Widely used in the manufacture of articles such as intravenous bags and tubings, blood bags and
infusion tubings and nasogastric tubes, DEHP was “found to be illegally added” to a food product
raw material intended for emulsification in Taiwan, Lazo said.
She added that while low doses of DEHP were generally safe, high doses or prolonged exposure
can have harmful effects.
Children are especially prone to the harmful effects of high doses of DEHP or to repeated
exposure which can lead to testicular effects, fertility problems and toxicity to kidneys, Lazo said.
(PIA)
by anyajulia | Sep 26, 2008 | Headlines, National News
THE public is now warned against taking “food supplements” as alternative cure for ailments.
Belated it may be, the country’s health authorities now insist: these have no curable effects.
Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) of the Department of Health (DOH) issued the warning as the proliferation of food supplements in the market and the bombardment of commercials and testimonies sidle in primetime programs to catch everyone’s attentions as to alleged medical effects of the “supplements”.
In Bohol, food supplements even contract block time slots on local radio stations to market their products, program anchors also put in testimonies unwittingly “proving” that their products bring with them “curative” effect, and even invoke the DOH BFAD permits for their food supplements.
The permits stated are for the food supplements and not for the false claims that the program in general unwittingly project, says a medical practitioner who has asked his patients to stop their “food supplements” because of noted complications.
Stepping in to this to hopefully guide consumers, BFAD advises, these may supplement the body’s nutritional requirements but they have no curative effects.
Moreover, the BFAD, through Director Leticia-Barbara Gutierrez added, there is no proficient medical study and proof that such products can cure or treat a particular ailment or disease.
In DOH-BFAD memorandum 2008-004, Gutierrez went on to advise the public, saying “taking of these food supplements as an alternative for recommended regular medication for an ailment is not the appropriate move and this may result to more serious complications or other ailments.
The DOH-BFAD memorandum dated March 28, 2008 was pushed to take care of health and safety of the consuming public.
Meanwhile, Bohol BFAD chief, Rica Aumentado harps the same line and warns Boholanos against the supplements now peddled in the rural areas.
The Bohol BFAD warning also goes for imported milk and milk based products from China, which ahs been pulled out from the markets due to noted melanine contamination. (rachiu/PIA)
