FDA checking food laced with recycled lard from Taiwan

Philippine health officials are now checking imported food products that could contain potentially harmful recycled lard oil from Taiwan, state-run Philippines News Agency reported Tuesday.

 

The Food and Drug Administration said it was verifying if there were food products with the contaminated oil that have been imported to the Philippines.

 

“We are validating, checking whether there are Taiwan’s or food products that have used this contaminated oil imported to the Philippines. We’re still checking,” it quoted FDA acting director general Kenneth Hartigan-Go as saying.

 

“If these products entered the local market, they will be recalled,” he added.

 

Last week, a Taiwan-based maker of lard, margarine, and shortening was found selling cooking oil made from recycled kitchen waste.

 

Hartigan-Go said those who imported food products with the contaminated ingredient should return the products or risk confiscation by the FDA.

 

“The least that we can do is blacklist them and put them under due diligence if there are future products coming from the source. We can blacklist the supplier of goods abroad,” he said.

 

He added the FDA is coordinating with the Bureau of Customs on the matter. —Joel Locsin/NB, GMA News