兒童保健品or 塑化品?

塑化劑最新清單新增多項兒童保健品2011年06月02日 17:51 蘋果即時   衛生署今公布塑化劑最新清單，新增許多兒童營養品，包括友華醫藥生技的卡洛塔妮乳鐵三益菌、卡洛塔妮綜合營養素、新貝比卡兒綜合營養素、貝比卡兒敏寶鈣粉（鳳梨）等。 台塑生醫的兒童金盞花複方錠、兒童乳鐵蛋白複方粉末等產品，因原料來自加川，也在追查之列。 而昱伸下游公司金果王所生產的含塑化劑品項，從6項增到14項，至少流向19個下游廠商。而在上月19日昱伸通知下游廠商起雲劑含有有毒塑化劑後，金果王仍然罔顧食用者安全繼續出貨。

衛生福利部 僅只名稱升級?

監委衛食管局請命 人力不足難把關 2011-06-02 【台灣醒報】 監察委員吳豐山今天針對塑化劑風暴，投書中國時報論壇指出，明年衛生署升格為衛生福利部後，食品藥物管理局並沒增加多少經費與員額，而正因經費、人力嚴重不足，所以塑化劑不列在例常查驗項目，出了事才驚覺「破了那麼大的洞」。立委黃淑英也說，除了員額，食品檢驗員的素質也須再提升，否則難以查出商人的黑心手段。  吳豐山指出，昨日監察院財經委員會巡察食品藥物管理局發現，明年衛生署升格衛生福利部後，整個部八司六處四署一局一所，總員額仍只有八百三十一名，食品衛生管理局雖然同步升級為部內之署，但經費、員額看不出會有什麼長進。  尤其跟先進國家比較，我國食品藥物的管理經費實在過低，他舉例說，美國、日本乃至於歐洲幾個主要國家，其食品藥物管理的經費和人力（折算人口比例後）都比我國多出幾十倍乃至於百倍。民進黨立委黃淑英受訪時對此表示，我國食品藥物管理局的人員編制與經費預算確實較為不足，而政府組織改造通常也只是「名稱升級」，對於負責該業務的單位，沒有實質上的幫助。  她進一步指出，除了經費、人力不足之外，檢驗員的專業素質也應相對提升，對於食品添加物應有更高敏感度，因為實在很難料到，像塑化劑這種完全不屬食品添加物的物質，居然會添加到食品中。而這些都需要更多經費與人力配合，才能把關得更為嚴密。台灣幅員雖小，但人口眾多、產業發達、廠家萬千，食品藥物管理業務本就繁雜，吳豐山指出，當初得知政府有意將衛生署食品藥物管理單位仿美國例，組成食品藥物管理局時，還以為會有大幅提升嚴重不足的管理經費和人力。然而，在改制為食品藥物管理局後，用在食品藥物管理的經費，一年卻仍只有兩三億的預算與幾十名員額，吳豐山強調，經費和人力嚴重不足已成為我國食品藥物管理的根本病灶。他提醒政府說，這種治理國家的要領如果不改，有毒塑化劑為害眾生不會是最後一個滔天大案。

Recall of three registered pharmaceutical products related to plasticiser incident

Published on: 2011-06-02 Hong Kong (HKSAR) - The Department of Health (DH) today (June 2) ordered the recall of three more registered pharmaceutical products imported from Taiwan as part of its continual follow-up action on the plasticiser incident in Taiwan. The recall order followed laboratory results from Government Laboratory received today, indicating the presence of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) alone or together with Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) in three other products. The concerned products are Mebendazole Tab 100mg (Panbiotic) (Registration no. HK-53603), Oxo Cap 100mg (Registration no.  HK-34702) and Scoro Orabase 1mg/g Meider (Registration no. HK-59097). Laboratory results indicated that Mebendazole Tab 100mg (Panbiotic) was found to contain DEHP at a level of 2.2 ppm. It is for treating worm infections, manufactured by Panbiotic Laboratories, Taiwan and imported by Yat Seng Trading Co (Yat Seng). Yat Seng has set up a hotline 2687 6629 for public enquiries. The supplier of the flavouring agent is related to one of the incriminated suppliers in the Taiwan DEHP incident¡C Laboratory results indicated that Oxo Cap 100mg was found to contain DEHP at a level of 1.6 ppm. It is for treating respiratory tract inflammation, manufactured by Yung Shin Pharm Ind Co Ltd, Taiwan and imported by Yung Shin Co Ltd in Hong Kong (Yung Shin). Yung Shin has set up a hotline 2637 5131 to answer enquiries. The last product, Scoro Orabase 1mg/g Meider, which is oral gel for treating mouth ulcers, was found to contain DEHP at a level of 1.8 ppm and DINP at a level of 2.0 ppm. manufactured by Meider Pharm Co Ltd, Taiwan, imported by Wings Pharmaceutical Ltd and distributed by America Golden Rich Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Golden Rich). Golden Rich has set up a hotline 2673 4826 for the recall. Long term consumption of DEHP at high level may affect liver and kidney, and may cause cancer. DINP has similar chronic toxicity as DEHP. Concerning carcinogenicity, no relevant human data are available. The suppliers of the flavouring agents of the last two products are not related to the incriminated suppliers. The matter will be referred to Taiwan Food and Drug Administration for their information and further investigation. "DH will continue investigation and closely monitor the situation of plasticiser contamination in Taiwan," he said. He stressed that the levels of DEHP and DINP detected are considered unlikely to cause acute harmful effects if taken according to the recommended dosage.

Practicing medicine in Swaziland is worthy challenge: doctors

2011/06/02 Taipei, June 2 (CNA) Practicing medicine in Africa is a life-changing, eye-opening experience, Taiwanese doctors said Thursday at a press conference held to celebrate the launch of a book about Taiwan's medical mission in an under-developed country. The book, titled "Passion Under the White Coat, " documents stories told by doctors and medical staff who have volunteered to provide medical assistance to people in Swaziland, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan for some 40 years. Taiwan has been sending doctors to the African country since 2009 to help improve the health situation there. "Given the chance, I would go there again, " said Shih Ying-jie, an orthopedist from Taipei Medical University who admitted that he had doubts about the nine-month posting before departure. Because of the lack of medical supplies and doctors, most people are left with no choice but to forego prompt treatment, which in turn worsens their health, he says in the book. "A doctor is more than a doctor in Swaziland, " he said, pointing out that in poverty-stricken countries, a doctor not only takes care of the physical health of his patients but also tries to find cost-efficient ways of carrying out surgery. "This has been an eye-opening experience for me," he said. Although Shih is now back in Taiwan, there are still five doctors, one nurse and one administrative staffer working in Swaziland's Mbabane Government Hospital, providing quality medical consultations and surgical services. At the press conference, students from Swaziland studying in Taiwan applauded the country's continuous efforts to help their homeland by singing a traditional thank-you song. "My friend can now walk, thanks to Taiwanese doctors, " said Sakhile K.S. Masuku-Maseko, a 32 year-old graduate student in nutrition and health science. "Were it not for the doctor, she would have had to travel to South Africa for spinal surgery, which she could not afford, " Masuku-Maseko said. Nursing student Hlengiwe Sacolo said meanwhile that Taiwan's advances in AIDS prevention is something that Swaziland could learn from. About one in four people are infected with HIV/AIDS in the country. "Medical diplomacy is the best example of soft power, " said Chen Shih-liang, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), adding that the medical mission has greatly enhanced relations between Taiwan and Swaziland.

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.