FDA to consumers: Don’t buy unlabeled soy sauce

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday warned consumers against buying unlabeled and repacked soy sauce products following reports of a cancer-causing chemical found in several imported brands of one of Filipinos’ favorite condiments.

In an advisory, FDA Director Suzette Lazo identified the chemical as 3-monochloropropane-1, 2-diol or 3-MCPD, a byproduct of soy sauce manufacturing which uses hydrolyzed vegetable protein as an ingredient.

Lazo said research since the 1990s had shown that 3-MCPD could cause cancer in animals. In 2002, the FDA (previously Bureau of Food and Drugs) adopted 1 part per million as the maximum allowable limit of the chemical, the same standard employed by the United States FDA.

But Lazo assured the public that soy sauce sold and distributed by local manufacturers and distributors registered with the FDA was safe for consumption.

“The FDA requires the product registration of all imported soy sauce before they are allowed in the market,” said Lazo. “All soy sauce products under the jurisdiction of the FDA have passed safety evaluations, including safe levels of 3-MCPD,” she said.

But Lazo said that there were imported products “in underground markets” which could contain dangerous levels of the cancer-causing agent. She also highly discouraged the retailing of unlabeled soy sauce products, which may be harmful to consumers’ health.

The EcoWaste Coalition, a group promoting public health and safety, also issued on Monday the same warning against unlabeled soy sauce products, mostly made in China.

In a statement, Aileen Lucero of EcoWaste Coalition’s Project Protect, advised Filipino consumers to read the labels carefully before purchasing soy sauce products.

“Please take the time to read the labels for facts that should help you in making an informed choice for your health and safety,” she stressed. “We have the right as consumers to enjoy access to complete and truthful product information and we should insist on it,” she added.