Chua Warns Tea Producers Not To Add Colouring

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry today reminded tea producers in this country not to add food colouring including permitted ones, into their products.
Its Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said that such action was a form of cheating and the act of mixing colouring, including those permitted was an offence under the 1985 Food Regulations.
"Mixing with colouring (even if they are permitted food colourings) is an offence where if found guilty, is liable for a fine not more than RM20,000 or five years prison or both," he said in a statement issued here Thursday.
Chua said that the public should be enjoying tea from the Camelia leaves as stipulated under the regulation.
"I hope that in 2006, consumers in Malaysia will no longer be exposed to tea mixed with colourings," he added.
The reminder, said Chua, was in line with the memorandum sent to the Ministry by the Malaysian Tea Association, which among others touched on the act of mixing colouring into tea powder that had become rampant among some producers.
He also warned that the use of colouring in tea powder was one of the offences which the enforcement took stern action against through the 1983 Food Act.
Chua also advised consumers to be careful and to report to the State Health Department, District Health Office or the Health division under the local authorities if they suspected the tea they took had been added with colourings.
Consumers, he said, could conduct a simple test on tracing if the tea was added with colouring by putting the tea powder inside a clear glass containing pipe water at room temperature.
The water will change its colour if the tea is mixed with colouring, since the change in colour of the water is supposed to happen if the tea powder is placed in hot water.