AVA testing safety of coloured plastic utensils after Taiwan scare
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Association is testing the safety of coloured plastic utensils in Singapore.
This follows Taiwanese media reports that six out of 41 samples of
coloured straws, plastic stirrers and spoons contained lead exceeding
permitted levels, in particular, yellow and orange-coloured items.
Excessive lead amounts can affect the mental development of children.
The random checks were conducted by the consumers association there.
Some Taiwanese retail outlets have begun removing affected products from their shelves.
When contacted, Singapore's AVA said immediate checks would be done
to ensure locally-sold items do not "migrate out harmful substances". -
CNA/vm
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AVA says coloured plastic utensils in Singapore safe for use
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said on Thursday that tests conducted on coloured plastic utensils here have shown they are safe for use.
This followed reports by Taiwanese media that six out of 41 samples of coloured straws, plastic stirrers and spoons contained lead exceeding permitted levels. The checks were conducted by the consumers' association there.
AVA said in testing the safety of food-contact articles, it is essential to analyse the migration levels of contaminants.
Only contaminants that have migrated from a food utensil to be ingested by the user will pose a safety risk associated with the ingestion of the contaminants.
However, it said the report from the Taiwan Consumer Association did not report on the results of tests to determine the levels of lead that would migrate out of the six samples of plastic cutlery when in use - to enable an appropriate assessment of the safety risk of the findings.
Some retail outlets in Taiwan have begun removing affected products from their shelves.
- CNA/so