The plastic additive scandal
The plastic additive scandal is a severe food contamination case that has heavily affected Taiwan’s food, beverage and toy manufacturing industry. The cancer-causing additive, officially known as DEHP, was first detected in a routine food security inspection in May, 2011. This discovery alerted the local hygiene inspectors who soon disclosed the lab results showing that there were numerous beverages on the island that had been contaminated by the poisonous additive.
Although Taiwan authority detained a number of the chemical suppliers and purchasers, the scandal did not come to an end. The additive was not only found in the manufacturing of drinks, but also the bakeries, and toy industries were exposed. DEHP was detected in the plasticizer used to make plastic soft and pliable. By June 8, 2011, a total of 279 enterprises of fruit juice, tea beverage, fruit jam, collagen protein powder, probiotic powder and fruit juice powder were blacklisted in the additive scandal.
In response to the unexpected food security crisis, the Chinese mainland government banned the importing of all problematic products, totaling to 961. They also recalled the beverages that were reported as tainted and allowed only products that were proven not to have signs of DEHP enter into the mainland market.
According to Ma Ying-jeou, the leader of Taiwan, the plastic additive scandal caused much damage to the island’s image. However, he called for a public calmness by promising that the local authority would work against time to take the tainted products off the shelves.
