Wednesday, July 25, 2007 DTI cracks down on banned Sino foods
THE Local Price Coordinating Council-Iligan City conducted the monitoring activity on major establishments on BFAD prohibited Chinese food products last July 20.
In a press statement, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Northern Mindanao said the inspection was spearheaded by its Lanao del Norte Provincial Office in coordination with the Local Government Unit through the City Mayor's Office and the City Health Office.
Among the seven major establishments monitored, two establishments were found to be selling White Rabbit Creamy Candy manufactured by Guan Sheng Yuan Food General Factory and Milk Candy distributed by Fujian.
These food products were immediately pulled out from the selling area and sealed until evidences would prove otherwise.
Among the 22 stores monitored inside the Pala-o Supermarket, no stores were caught selling the products.
Assistant Regional Director/Provincial Director-Lanao del Norte OIC Linda O. Boniao said they are advising the consumers to refrain from buying and consuming the Chinese products, which are positive on formaldehyde as advised by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
"We are calling the importers/distributors and the establishments offering the sale of these products to withdraw these from the market until the safety of these products are assured and are already fit for human consumption," she said.
In addition, Boniao said the monitoring team found out a minimal presence of BFAD prohibited Chinese food products in Iligan City due to the efforts of the sales agent of United Caraga Corp., distributor of White Rabbit candy in Mindanao who already advised stores owners to refrain from selling the products.
Other Chinese food products that registered positive results on formaldehyde are the following: Bairong Grape Biscuits manufactured by Gongguan Bairong Foodstuff Co.,Ltd and distributed by Goodway International Trading Corp.; Yong Kang Foods Grape Biscuit manufactured by Dongguan Yongkang Food Co., Ltd, Gongguan City, Guangdong.
According to the US National Cancer Institute, formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling gas and is considered as an important industrial chemical used to manufacture building materials and to produce many household products.
It is mostly used in pressed wood products such as particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard, glues and adhesives, permanent press fabrics, paper product coatings, and certain insulation materials.
In addition, formaldehyde is commonly used as an industrial fungicide, germicide, and disinfectant, and as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories.
