Wax candy from China under investigation: Health ministry

Taipei, Sept. 17 (CNA) The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has ordered the Food and Drug Administration to investigate "wax candy" products from China that have appeared for sale on Taiwanese online shopping websites, Deputy Health Minister Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀) said on Tuesday.

Lin told CNA via a phone interview that sellers of these products may have violated the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation as well as Regulations Governing Trade between the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area if they did not obtain a permit for importing the products into Taiwan's market.

Information on the websites shows the candies have an outer layer of wax wrapped around jam or syrup inside, Lin said.

However, Lin said she suspects the contents are more likely to be processed foodstuffs, including artificial flavors and coloring.

She said the candies raised food safety concerns and advised people to exercise caution before buying the food products because it was uncertain whether or not they contained illegal additives.

She said the public could report suspicious products to their local health bureaus.