Health alert on Chinese New Year titbits from China

Sun2Surf:PUTRAJAYA: The government has stepped up the monitoring of titbits imported from China following reports of high levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in such foodstuffs.
The titbits include pumpkin and melon seeds (kua chi), peanuts, pistachios, cashew nuts and other popular Chinese New Year favourites.
The alert comes after local Chinese vernacular newspapers reported yesterday that the Guangdong province Food Safety Committee found half of the titbits in the market not safe for consumption.
The foodstuffs were bleached with SO2 and laced with high level of sweeteners to enhance taste.
The Chinese authority also issued a warning to the public not to buy "shinny", "over whitened" or "richly coloured" titbits.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said: "We have just learnt about the findings by the Chinese authorities on the abuse of food addictives like SO2 and sweeteners by some unethical junk food manufacturers.
"We are now giving extra attention to such imported food, especially during the festive season.
It is impossible to test all imported foodstuffs.
"The public should exercise extra caution when buying titbits for the Chinese New Year celebration," he told a press conference after launching the Voluntary Registration for Medical Devices Establishments (MeDVER) yesterday.
According to the European Food Infor mation Council (Eufic), sulfiting agents containing SO2 are food additives that can cause problems like asthma to sensitive individuals.