17 food and drink products with banned subtances - Health Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) – The Health Ministry has detected 17 food and drink products sold here containing banned substances since last year.

Its deputy minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said this follows checks conducted on 439 samples taken from various types of food and drinks products available in the market.

“The products were found to contain banned substances like steroids and were not in compliance with the Food Act 1983 and its regulations.

“Action has been taken on the producers or sellers,” he said during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Dr Lee was replying to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib (BN-Maran) who wanted to know what action the ministry was taking to monitor and curb the sale of supplementary foods containing banned substances.

Replying to a supplementary question from Ismail who asked about the steps taken by the ministry to tackle the problem, Dr Lee said the ministry was collaborating with the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia to monitor and block websites which sell food and drink products which violate the law.

Dr Lee said those found guilty of committing an offence under the act could be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed up to 10 years, or both.

-- BERNAMA