Food Standards Australia New Zealand has announced the withdrawl of one product from Australian shelves, an asparagus juice, having been identified as one of the products made with plasticiser-contaminated emulsifiers in Taiwan. At least one factory in Taiwan was found to be using Di-Ethyl Hexyl Phthalate (DEHP) in place of more expensive palm oil in the manufacture of its clouding agents, while another factory was using Di-Isononyl Phthalate (DINP). Both compounds are carcinogenic and can cause... ...Read more »

Taiwan has been hit with the latest food-adulteration scandal, after Yu Shen Chemical Co was found to be selling an emulsifier manufactured using a carcinogenic plasticising compound, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, more commonly known as DEHP. DEHP, which can cause endocrine and hormonal dysfunction and feminization in boys as well as cancer, was being used by the company in place of more expensive palm oil in the emulsifier. The emulsifier itself has not been identified specifically, but is described... ...Read more »

The Taiwanese Government is planning to introduce a tax on junk food – a move which would be a world-first, according to reports. Citing the Apple Daily, AFP reported that Taiwan’s Bureau of Health Promotion was drafting a bill to tax unhealthy food and drink such as certain soft drinks and a range of fast-food, confectionery and alcohol products. The revenue raised would then be redirected toward health programs. The scheme could be introduced in 2011, with the bill likely to be debated... ...Read more »