More soy sauce products fail tests

A further five soy sauce products on New Zealand shelves have tested positive for a potentially cancer-causing chemical.

Director-General of Health Karen Poutasi yesterday warned people not to use Zu Miao Mushroom Soy Sauce, Gia Minh Seasoning Soy Sauce, Kimlan Soy Sauce, Tung Chun Shrimp Roe Soy Sauce and President Creamy Soy Sauce.

Products were tested after 25 per cent of soy sauce products in Britain showed high levels of chloropropanols, which are potentially cancer-causing chemicals.

An emergency food standard was put in place early this year to ensure the safety of domestic produce and imported soy sauce.

The Health Ministry also began surveying soy sauce products domestically produced or imported before the standards were put in place last month.

Testing showed the five products were above the New Zealand limits for the choloropropanol chemical 3-MPCD.

"We have requested importers to withdraw these products as a precautionary health measure," Dr Poutasi said.

"These products should not be consumed."

Concern was mostly for people who consumed large quantities of the sauces. The five products are produced in China, Taiwan, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

"Importers are being asked to inform all their retailers. Retailers are cooperating with their importers and the Ministry of Health and withdrawing the products from sale," Dr Poutasi said.

Soy-sauce sampling is expected to continue for the next four weeks.

- NZPA