KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry assured Malaysians that the widely available China-made bamboo chopsticks are safe for use.
Following concerns of toxic content in the utensils, Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said that the ministry had studied the chopsticks to ensure its safety and compliance with the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985.
“Tests showed that the level of sulphur dioxide in the bamboo chopsticks is lower than the limit set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Taiwan, which is not more than 22 parts per million (ppm)."
“The ministry will continue to monitor the level of sulphur dioxide in the chopsticks to ensure the safety of its use,” he said in a statement today.
Used in regulated levels, sulphur dioxide is classified as a permissible food preservative, under the Food Regulations 1985.
It is often used as a bleaching agent to deter mold growth in the production of bamboo chopsticks.
Those with concerns and complaints on food safety are urged to contact their nearest District Health Office or their respective State Health Departments.
They can also alternatively log onto the ministry’s website at http://moh.spab.gov.my.