Food chemical may shrink sex organs

To further secure the health and safety of the students, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday ordered all school canteens to rid of products from their stocks contaminated with the chemical di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate or DEHP.

DEHP is suspected to cause damage in the kidneys, liver and lungs, and cause reproductive and developmental disorders such as underdeveloped penises and testicles in boys and early puberty in girls.

DepEd points to a DOH-FDA directive (2011-008), “products whether registered or not with the FDA but identified in the tentative list of DEHP-contaminated products shall be recalled and disposed of properly.”

Some of the items under the list include fruit juices, fruit juice powders, fruit concentrates, fruit candies, fruit tablets, fruit powders, sports drinks, teas, jelly and yoghurt.

In Memorandum Order No. 140, Education Secretary Armin Luistro directed school canteens to “dispose of or return products in your stocks and ensure that they are not consumed by students and school personnel.”

School heads were also mandated to monitor the inventory of food items sold in school cafeterias, and to relay the department’s concern with the local government so food stalls outside of schools maybe examined.

Those in-charge of school canteens are likewise encouraged to follow the directive from the Department of Health-Food and Drug Administration (DOH-FDA) on how to deal with DEHP-contaminated products to prevent school children from buying it.

Under the said DOH-FDA directive (2011-008), “products whether registered or not with the FDA but identified in the tentative list of DEHP-contaminated products shall be recalled and disposed of properly.”

Some of the items under the list include fruit juices, fruit juice powders, fruit concentrates, fruit candies, fruit tablets, fruit powders, sports drinks, teas, jelly and yoghurt.

Products not identified in the list but are unregistered with the FDA shall also be recalled and disposed of, and lastly that those products that are registered but not identified in the list shall be withdrawn from the market to be subjected to a laboratory analysis to confirm the presence or absence of DEHP.

The toxic watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition earlier urged DepEd to act on rolling out a food safety awareness and action campaign with school administrators, teachers, non-teaching personnel, students, parents and food service providers to educate them on the gravity of the issue.

The Taiwan’s FDA has also ordered a stop to the selling of products made by the Yu Shen Chemical Company that used DEHP as substitute for palm oil.

BY MARIA NIKKA U. GARRIGA