Another day, another food scandal: Cancer causing fruit juice from Taiwan

In a year that, despite new food safety laws, has already brought us recycled steamed buns, the re-labelling of production dates for packaged meat andfake beef, here's another thing to worry about.This time: tainted food items from Taiwan.

Yesterday, Taiwan had to recall millions of products, that were found to have been contaminated by the plastic polymer DEHP, that was mixed into a thickening agent by Yu Shen Spice Co Ltd over the past five years to save costs. DEHP is not only a possible cause of cancer but can, in the long term, damage the liver and kidneys, cause female sexual precocity and harm male reproductive capacity.The contaminated additive is commonly used in products such as sports drinks, fruit juice, dried fruit.

Now, products in Shanghai are also being investigated. According to the Taiwan Department of Health authorities, Shanghai Shunda Food Seasoning Co Ltd is also involved in the scandal which, of course, the company denied. But dried fruit and vegetables of Trikot, who have used the DEHP tainted product, are still on sale in Shanghai, including at City Shop in Nanjing Xi Lu.

So add that to your list of things you're scared to buy: dried fruit. Oh, the humanity.

By Nele Diels