May 30, 2011

The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department will ban the import, sale and supply of two kinds of energy drinks produced in Taiwan from noon on May 31, unless they carry safety certificates issued by Taiwanese authorities.
 
The affected drinks are Speed Sports Drink in regular and lemon flavours, in 600ml bottles. Both are produced by Young Energy Source.
 
Centre for Food Safety Controller Dr Constance Chan today told reporters the centre collected more than 30 samples of Taiwanese-style drinks and energy drinks produced in Taiwan to see if they contain excessive levels of a plastic additive commonly known as DEHP.
 
Of the nine results obtained so far, the DEHP-level of three Taiwanese-style drinks was satisfactory, while the remaining six samples of the two affected energy drinks contained excessive levels of the chemical. Long-term consumption can affect health.
 
Tests on the remaining samples are pending.
 
DEHP was also detected in samples of Brand's Calcium Grow Chewable Tablets. Although taking the product in accordance with the prescriptive dosage will not impose immediate and significant risk to consumers’ health, the Department of Health has ordered the importer, Cerebos (HK), to recall the product.