Daily DEHP reports to be issued

June 01, 2011

Results on product tests for Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) will be released daily, Secretary for Food & Health York Chow says.
 
Speaking to reporters after attending a function today, Dr Chow said the Government will take measures to ensure products containing the plastic additive will be kept off the market.
 
Dr Chow also told legislators the Centre for Food Safety will strengthen tests on sports drinks, fruit juices, tea drinks, fruit jams and fruit syrups, as well as food products in the form of capsules, tablets or powders, and publish test results on the centre’s website.
 
According to traders, no other contaminated Taiwanese products have been sold in Hong Kong, except for the sports drink, passion fruit tea and jelly products announced last week.
 
Dr Chow said the centre has also been inspecting and taking market samples, and has not found any problem food products yet.
 
Whether there are health consequences depends on the level of DEHP in the product and the amount and duration of consumption. Occasional excursion above the safety reference value is unlikely to cause any significant health risk, provided the average intake does not continuously exceed the safety reference value, he said.