ID :
187235
Wed, 06/08/2011 - 13:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/187235
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea finds environmental hormone in Taiwanese food products
SEOUL, June 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's food safety watchdog said Wednesday that two imported Taiwanese food products have been found to contain a potentially health-threatening environmental hormone.
The products, manufactured by Taiwanese firms Yungshin Pharm and Tosaka International, were taken off shelves immediately for containing DEHP, according to the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA).
The KFDA, however, noted that the products -- Women GLA Complex Gamma Linolenic Acid and Oriyen EC 12 -- contained amounts of the hormone that are too small to pose serious health risks to humans.
DEHP is a chemical additive that serves as an emulsifier to make plastic soft. If used in foods, it can create emulsions in fruit jelly, yogurt mix powder, juices and drinks.
The material was reportedly used among some Taiwanese food manufacturers as a substitute for more expensive palm oil as they sought to reduce production costs. Some experts say that it may also cause cancer in humans.
On June 1, South Korea banned imports of Taiwanese products suspected of containing DEHP, following reports that some Taiwanese firms are under investigation for using the potentially health-threatening material.
The products, manufactured by Taiwanese firms Yungshin Pharm and Tosaka International, were taken off shelves immediately for containing DEHP, according to the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA).
The KFDA, however, noted that the products -- Women GLA Complex Gamma Linolenic Acid and Oriyen EC 12 -- contained amounts of the hormone that are too small to pose serious health risks to humans.
DEHP is a chemical additive that serves as an emulsifier to make plastic soft. If used in foods, it can create emulsions in fruit jelly, yogurt mix powder, juices and drinks.
The material was reportedly used among some Taiwanese food manufacturers as a substitute for more expensive palm oil as they sought to reduce production costs. Some experts say that it may also cause cancer in humans.
On June 1, South Korea banned imports of Taiwanese products suspected of containing DEHP, following reports that some Taiwanese firms are under investigation for using the potentially health-threatening material.
