The Health Ministry has today ordered a recall of Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia’s (KR1M) oyster sauce, for violating food safety regulations.
"We have informed the Domestic Trade and Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, which has jurisdiction over the matter to remove the product from the market.
“The product must be recalled immediately," its minister Liow Tiong Lai told reporters at a press conference at Parliament House today.
He explained that the 1Malaysia branded oyster sauce sold at KR1M outlets nationwide, recorded a lower protein content than the requirement mandated by the Food Regulation 1985, in tests conducted by the ministry's Food Safety Department.
"Two samples of the sauce obtained by the ministry recorded protein content of 0.8% protein weight for weight (w/w) and 1.0% protein w/w compared to the standard for oyster sauce which is 2.5% protein w/w specified in Rule 166A of the Act."
The sauce is one of seven products tested by the Health Ministry following claims by Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua that thequality of the products were in question.
'Pua didn't send samples'
To a question, Liow said there had been a delay in conducting the tests because samples need to be procured.Liow however cleared other products of any infringement of food regulations, which was alleged by Pua.
"We have tested samples of the sweetened condensed creamer, evaporated creamer, pure Ceylon tea, meehoon and blackcurrant fruit cordial and found them to comply with the food safety regulations," assured the minister.
He also denied Pua's claim that the Vitamin A contents of the KR1M's growing up milk formula was way above permissible levels.
Second batch of tests soon
He argued that while Pua quoted the Food Regulation, he had mixed up the numbers.
"He referred to the growing up milk formula, but used the maximum Vitamin A levels for the for the follow-up formula.
"We have tested the growing up milk and found its Vitamin level to be 3,420 I.U. per 100 gram, this is way below the permissible level of 5,000 I.U. per 100 gram for growing up formula detailed in the regulation," explained Liow.
Asked about claims that KR1M's chilli sauce has exceedingly high levels of heavy metals, Liow said that this is just the first batch of tests which they will follow up with more items soon.
"There are more items being tested, we know he (Pua) has got more items to highlight, and we too will test as many samples as we can," he replied.
The health minister who is also Bentong MP, hit out at Pua who he claimed is using the issue to clock political mileage.
"He should have came to us with the samples and claims of problematic products. He should not have abused the matter to mislead the rakyat for political gains,"
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