About a month ago, Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that some companies in Taiwan were using toxic chemical DEHP (Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) to manufacture various consumer food products. (DEHP is a plasticizer frequently used in the production of plastics to make it soft and pliable. If consumed on a regular basis, DEHP can cause cancer and also lead to kidney or testicular damage and fertility problems.) Food contamination occurred when these companies intentionally added DEHP to emulsifiers to lower production costs. The emulsifiers, better known as cloudy agents, are legal food additives generally made of Acacia gum, palm oil, & various food additives and used in juice and beverages to give it a cloudy rich look.

Initially, only two sports drinks (Dongli Sport Drinks and Dongli Lemon Sport Drinks) were found to be contaminated. Now, suspected product categories contaminated with DEHP have expanded to include: sports drinks, fruit juice, tea drinks, fruit jam/fruit nectar or jelly and food in tablet, capsule or powder form. You can see a full list here (English) or here (Chinese).
Food recalls have been issued in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and more Asian & European countries. (The US has not yet issued any recalls.)

Without clear information from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you’re favorite frozen yogurt shop and bubble/boba tea spot could still be serving DEHP-contaminated products along with your local Asian supermarket. Some US-based locations have already taken proactive steps to remove these products off the self or get certified to be DEHP-Free . A few years back melamine triggered a China import ban on certain products.

Taiwan raises fine on DEHP-related cases

Taiwan’s food market hit hard by DEHP crisis