Manila bans 'contaminated' goods

Secretary Edwin Lacierda, presidential spokesperson, said the ban has a pre-emptive measure to stop the products from being smuggled into the country. None of the products is available in the Philippine market.

Lacierda said the ban was imposed by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) following a scientific evaluation.

“It has nothing to do with politics. It has nothing to do with the present situation that we’re in with Taiwan. It’s as simple as that,’’ he said in a Palace briefing. “It has everything to do with the health of the Filipino citizens.’’

FDA acting director General Kenneth Hartigan-Go explained that long-term consumption of high levels of maleic acid could harm the kidneys.

The Taiwanese food products are Hong Tapioca Starch, Redman Black Tapioca Pearl, Sun Right Indica Rice Powder, Top 1 Tapioca Pearls, Tea World Tapioca Starch Ball, Unbranded Starch Ball, Ding Long Tapioca Pearls, Sun Chi Noodles, T & M Resources Corp. Tapioca Pearls, Pure Tea Tapioca Pearls (White), Pure Tea Tapioca Pearls (Black), Full Free Green Tea Tapioca Ball, Full Free Yam Tapioca Ball, Long Kow Vegetarian Instant Rice Noodle and Long Kow Rice Noodle with Thick Soup.

Go noted that the Taiwanese government had taken action against the food manufacturers and suspended the sale and distribution of the products.

Tension between the Philippines and Taiwan ran high over the fatal shooting of Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shi-chen by Philippine Coast Guards in the waters off Balintang Channel in northern Philippines on May 9. Taipei froze the hiring of new Filipino workers, expelled Manila’s envoy, suspended the travel of Taiwanese to the Philippines and conducted military drills in disputed waters in a flurry of sanctions on Manila, and Taiwanese youngsters attacked Filipino workers.