QuickCheck: Is there sulphur dioxide in our soy sauce?

 

Singapore recalled a brand of sweet soy sauce for containing sulphur dioxide. Are soy sauces in Malaysia affected as well?

A RECENT product recall in Singapore of soy sauce for containing sulphur dioxide has had some wondering if our locally available sauce was also affected.

Do soy sauces found on our store shelves contain sulphur dioxide?

Verdict:

NO

According to a statement by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, no samples of soy sauce products in the country were found to contain sulphur dioxide based on monitoring at all entry points and in local markets from June 2021 to date.

Dr Noor Hisham added that the Food Safety Information System of Malaysia data confirmed that the products recalled from the Singapore market due to the presence of undeclared sulphur dioxide were also imported to this country.

The soy sauce in question was Indonesian made ABC Sweet Soy Sauce but according to Dr Noor Hisham a "Hold, Test and Release" order had been imposed on the products since June 2021.

Sulphur Dioxide is used as a food preservative and is generally regarded as safe for human consumption. However there are individuals who are allergic to the additive thus it is required in both Singapore and Malaysia to be declared on the food packaging label.

Why the products were recalled in Singapore was that the compound not only was not declared on the label, the amount detected was in excess of the regulatory limit for sauces stated in the Singapore Food Regulations.

References:

1. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/09/12/no-sulphur-dioxide-found-in-abc-soy-sauce-samples-says-health-dg

2. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/wafers-two-sauces-being-recalled-after-sfa-finds-undeclared-allergens-in-them

- Star