PCT issues public statement on the plasticizer-tainted food scandal

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

3096 Edition

June 27-July 3, 2011

General Assembly News

PCT issues public statement on the plasticizer-tainted food scandal

Reported by Lin Yi-ying

Written by Lydia Ma

The first session of the 56th PCT General Assembly Executive Committee passed a 
motion to publish “PCT’s open response letter on the plasticizer scandal” on 
June 22, 2011. PCT General Assembly Moderator, Rev. Chiohh Lyiam-syian, said 
this scandal has wrought severe repercussions on Taiwan and the extent of 
damage and loss is incalculable.

To make matters worse, the government has yet to issue a public apology, 
further intensifying people’s sense of pessimism about the government’s 
competence. There are speculations that foods containing traces of plasticizers 
may date back to as early as 20 years ago, prompting Taiwanese to wonder 
whether they can trust government inspection labels on foods.

Chiohh said the PCT had wanted to issue a public response when the scandal 
first hit the news, but chose to wait and give the government the benefit of 
the doubt. But so far, government response has been disappointing to say the 
least and Taiwan’s reputation has been tarnished by the Ma administration’s 
sluggish and insincere reaction.

“At the end of the day, it’s the plasticizing of the heart that’s scary,” said 
PCT General Assembly Secretary Andrew Chang when referring to greedy traders 
who care only about their own profit and don’t think twice about putting the 
health of the public in peril. He said this was one of the consequences of an 
administration that kept touting on the importance of economic growth at all 
costs – including the darkening of the human heart.

The statement emphasized PCT’s concern that this scandal had damaged Taiwan’s 
reputation abroad – especially the international community’s perception of 
Taiwanese workers as good-hearted and hard-working people. 

It went on to urge the national government to investigate and hold public 
officials accountable for dereliction of duty.

Quoting Micah 6:8 and Deuteronomy 4:9, the statement concluded with a call 
repent from seeking economic growth at all costs and to turn toward pursuing 
justice and peace above all else instead.

Earlier this year, in May, a FDA inspector in Taiwan uncovered an illegal 
cost-cutting practice at a few companies in Taiwan – that is, adding 
plasticizers to clouding agents. Though clouding agents in foods are legal and 
often used to make foods and beverages more appealing, plasticizers are not for 
foods and are usually used only for industrial purposes. As of June 1, Taiwan’s 
FDA has identified 506 food products from 215 companies with traces of these 
plasticizers. 

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