Taichung incinerates plasticizer-tainted products

2011/06/02 Taipei, June 2 (CNA) Government officials oversaw the destruction of the first batch of chemically-tainted food products in central Taiwan's Taichung City on Thursday. Officials of the Taichung city government's Public Health Bureau ordered Yung Shin Pharmaceutical Industries Co. to destroy a ton of raw materials and products containing banned toxic plasticizers, such as probiotic chewable tablets and dietary supplements. They were burned up in smoke at the Houli Recycling Plant in Taichung. The move came amid a nationwide food contamination scandal that started when the Department of Health discovered DEHP, a carcinogenic plasticizer, was added to clouding agents used in many food products. The probe has now expanded to six plasticizers, and has tainted products in five major categories of foodstuffs -- sports drinks, juices, tea drinks, fruit jams, fruit syrups and jellies, and dietary supplements in capsule, tablet and powder form. Mei-Nah Hwang, director-general of Taichung City's Health Bureau, said that plasticizer-contaminated clouding agents had been in circulation in the market for such a long time, and has already caused great concern amongst people. Hwang said stores are not permitted to sell the five kinds of food and drinks unless the products have been certified as being plasticizer-free. The director also pointed out that the contaminated products will also be destroyed under the oversight of environmental protection inspectors. According to the city's Environmental Protection Bureau, for their disposal of each ton of questionable products, companies will be charged NT$377 (US$13.1) for the general waste disposal fee, NT$200 for the compensation fund for the neighborhood, and NT$250 for dealing with the bottom ash from the incinerator bed.