MPF RESPONDS OVER TAIWAN F&B SCANDAL

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 (Bernama) -- Plastic packaging should not be blamed
for recent concerns over Taiwan food and beverage products contaminated by
the Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), says the Malaysian Plastics Forum (MPF).

"In this case, DEHP was illegally used to replace the more expensive palm
oil ingredient in the clouding agents.

"A clouding agent is a legal food additive to make food or drinks more
visually appealing.

"It should be noted that this incident was the result of inappropriate and
illegal use of DEHP and is similar to that related to the melamine
scare, where the product was inappropriately in milk products," MPF said in a
statement, here Friday.

DEHP, DINP and other kinds of phthalates are mainly used as plasticisers in
making soft and flexible PVC articles.

"For food contact applications, it is mandatory for manufacturers to comply
with food contact regulations such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
USA and the European food contact articles/packaging regulations," it added.

MPF addresses issues related to plastics and the environment and consist of
two industry association, namely, the Malaysian Petrochemicals
Association-Plastics Resins Producers Group and the Malaysian Plastics
Manufacturers Association.