Tea leaves from Myanmar recalled

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/418752/1/.html

Posted: 30 March 2009 1112 hrs

Singapore: A range of pickled tea leaves imported from Myanmar has been found to be unsafe for consumption.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) - which has issued a product recall - said it has detected the presence of Auramine O, which is a yellow dye used as an industrial colouring agent for coloring silk, cotton, paper and leather.

The dye is not permitted for use in food, and all products containing the dye have been recalled and will be destroyed.

The move follows a ban by the Myanmar Health Ministry on 43 brands of pickled tea leaves which were found to contain the chemical dye instead of edible dye, which is said to cost 20 times higher than Auramine O.

Pickled tea leaves, mixed with edible oil and nuts often called "tea salad" or "la phet thote" is a popular traditional side dish.



The pickled tea leaves found to contain the chemical dye include several popular brands sold in Myanmar and abroad.

In Singapore, 20 types of pickled tea leaves imported from Myanmar have so far been found to contain Auramine O dye, including those under the brands of Ah Yee Taung, M&N, Shwe Toak, Soe Win, U Ka Kar, Yuzana and Zayan.

The AVA said in a statement that all consignments of tea leaves from Myanmar will be held for testing and will be released for sale only if test results show that they are free from Auramine O.

Consumers who have bought such products are advised not to consume them but to discard the products. Those with queries can call AVA's hotline at 6325-7625.


Details of the recalled products:

1: Ah Yee Taung Pickled Tea Leaves
2: Ah Yee Taung Pickled Tea Leaves (Normal)
3: Ah Yee Taung Pickled Tea Leaves (Red)
4: Ah Yee Taung Pickled Tea Leaves (Sour & Spicy)
5: M&N Pickled Tea Leaves (Extra Spicy)
6: M&N Pickled Tea Leaves (Spicy)
7: M&N Than Lwin Fwn Food Products Lon May Pickled Tea Leaves
8: M&N Than Lwin Fwn Food Products Pickled Tea Leaves
9: Shwe Toak Pickled Tea Leaves with Mixed Nut
10: Soe Win Gold Label Tea Leaves, 70 g (Best before date Jul-09)
11: U Ka Kar Green Tea Leaves
12: Yuzana Pickled Tea Leaves (Blue) - "Girl"
13: Yuzana Pickled Tea Leaves (Red) - "Boy"
14: Yuzana Pickled Tea Leaves (White) - "Girl"
15: Yuzana Pickled Tea Leaves with Mixed Peas
16: Yuzana Pickled Tea Leaves
17: Yuzana Pickled Tea Leaves (Sour & Spicy)
18: Yuzana Pickled Tea Leaves with Peas
19: Yuzana Plantation Pickled Tea Leaves
20: Zayan Pickled Tea Leaves (Hot & Spicy)