Government and Policy

Tainted Taiwan food banned in mainland restaurants

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-02 21:43

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland has banned its restaurants from selling or using beverages, food products and food additives from Taiwan, which are suspected to have been tainted with a cancer-causing plastic additive.

The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) issued an urgent notice Thursday, ordering all restaurants not to purchase or use food and food additives that have been placed on the list publicized by quality supervision authorities.

Restaurants that have already purchased listed products should immediately stop the use and sale of those products and participate in a recall, the notice said.

The SFDA also asked local food safety authorities to give prompt notice to restaurants within their jurisdictions, intensify their inspections and report any problems to the local government.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ) on Wednesday published a list of Taiwanese food companies that are suspected of adding di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), an organic compound that is used by manufacturers to soften plastic, to their food products.

The GAQSIQ announced that it will suspend imports of listed products.

The food safety commission under the State Council, or China's cabinet, on Wednesday ordered increased inspections and instant recalls for beverages, food products and additives contaminated with DEHP if they are found in factories, stores, or restaurants.