27/03/2026

FRIDAY | MAR 27, 2026

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‘Be wary of unreviewed additives in imported food’

CAP: Improve oversight of imported consumables PETALING JAYA: The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has flagged a potential gap in Malaysia’s oversight of imported food after reports that more than 100 food related chemicals entered the United States (US) market without formal review. It said the issue, highlighted by the Environmental Working Group, points to weaknesses in the US food safety system that could also affect countries like Malaysia. CAP said in a statement that the substances were approved under the Generally Recognised As Safe system, which allows companies to decide if certain ingredients are safe without having to inform the US Food and Drug Administration. CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said while the system is legal, it raises concerns about transparency and oversight, especially in today’s global food supply chain. “Decisions made in one country can affect many others,” he said, adding that Malaysia imports large amounts of processed and packaged foods. He said the issue is not that these ingredients are proven harmful, but that some may enter the market without independent checks. Malaysia’s food safety system, governed by the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 under the Health Ministry, is generally strong, with strict rules on labelling and approved additives. CAP said Malaysia, like many countries, depends heavily on documents and certifications from exporting countries for approving food for import. “It is neither practical nor feasible to conduct full toxicological reassessments of every ingredient. This creates a potential blind spot. “Ingredients self-certified as safe in the country of origin and not explicitly prohibited under Malaysian laws may enter the domestic market without independent scrutiny. “Malaysia may therefore be indirectly relying on foreign regulatory systems, even where industry self-approval is permitted.” He said this is more common in highly processed and health foods which often contain new additives, plant extracts or bioactive ingredients. – BY HARITH KAMAL

toxicological data, allergenicity and safety assurance. She added that at the same time, authorities conduct surveillance focusing on immediate risks such as microbial contamination, heavy metals and banned substances. “The current system is excellent at preventing acute foodborne illnesses or high-level chemical poisoning. However, it is not yet adequate for managing sub-clinical, long-term and unknown chronic risks posed by food additives and novel ingredients.” Given these uncertainties, she urged consumers to take a more active role in understanding what they eat. “Consumers must transition from being passive purchasers to informed citizens by better understanding ingredient labels, including additive codes.” She called for reducing intake of ultra-processed foods and rotating brands to limit repeated exposure to specific additives.

gaps in oversight of imported foods. Siti Aimi said Malaysia does not solely depend on data from exporting countries but also on scientific evaluations by international bodies such as the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives. She said the committee, made up of independent scientists from around the world, has evaluated more than 775 food additives as of October 2025 and removed from approved lists those substances found to have acute toxicity. She cautioned that science and innovation are moving faster than regulatory consensus. “It can take five to 10 years for a new additive or revised safety limit to go through international processes and be formally adopted. This is why some novel ingredients exist in a regulatory ‘grey zone,’ even within harmonised systems.” She said Malaysia requires safety dossiers for ingredients without a history of local use, covering

o Concerns being raised over long-term health risks caused by ingredients not widely used or fully studied, says academic

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

regulators and public health monitoring. “From an academic perspective, the introduction of unreviewed additives and novel ingredients is a significant challenge to public health surveillance.” While stressing that not all such ingredients are harmful, she warned of potential risks, including allergic reactions, cross-reactivity and diseases linked to bioaccumulation whereby substances build up in the body over time. “However, clinical research takes a long time before any firm conclusions can be made.” She was commenting on concerns raised by the Consumers Association of Penang over possible

PETALING JAYA: A new wave of unreviewed food additives and novel ingredients – substances not widely used or fully studied – could be slipping into imported foods, said Universiti Teknologi Mara Food Science and Technology senior lecturer Dr Siti Aimi Sarah Zainal Abidin. She said this has raised concerns over long-term health risks that current safety systems may struggle to detect. She added that rapid innovation in food ingredients is outpacing existing regulatory frameworks, creating new challenges for both

Minister’s 13 reforms in first 100 days in office KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh has introduced 13 reform measures in her first 100 days in office to strengthen governance and increase administrative transparency in the capital.

In a post on her Facebook page, she said the initiatives focus on improving administration and service delivery, including tackling tender cartels, widening public access to systems and reinforcing checks and balances. “Some of these reforms may be unpopular and some will take time to show results. That is the nature of reform, not all changes are immediately visible. “What matters is that the foundation has been laid, access has been expanded, transparency improved and decisions are now made more responsibly.” She said among the key measures is greater involvement of MPs in the budgeting and planning processes of Kuala Lumpur City Hall, ensuring that constituents’ voices are better represented. She added that efforts to combat tender cartels are also being intensified through collaboration with the Malaysian Competition Commission while space has been opened for the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission to take more

Yeoh observing how tuna is processed during a visit to the Labuan Food Industries factory. – PIC C OU R TESY O F HANNAH YEOH’S F A C EBOOK P AGE

beginning, and expressed hope for more time to continue driving reforms and enhancing service delivery in the Federal Territories. – Bernama

discount on gymnasium licence fees, a 50% reduction in hawker site rentals and lower Ramadan bazaar site rates. Hannah said 100 days is only the

systematic action against corruption. She said DBKL’s One-Stop Centre portal has been made accessible to the public. Other initiatives include an 80%

Call for better regulatory standards for ensuring safety of edible products PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s import regulations provide a basic framework for food safety but there are limitations when it comes to emerging or novel ingredients, according to the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca). Its CEO Saravanan Thambirajah said the presence of unreviewed or self-certified food additives in imported products is raising consumer safety concerns. “While such additives may be permitted in other jurisdictions, they may not have undergone independent evaluation under Malaysia’s regulatory standards. “The growing use of self certified additives and reliance on approvals from other countries underscores the need for stronger, proactive assessment mechanisms to ensure that imported products meet local safety expectations.” To enhance oversight, he recommended stronger pre-market evaluation of imported additives, better coordination among regulatory agencies and clearer labelling requirements. “Consumers can be better informed through targeted education and awareness programmes, particularly on

understanding food labels and the role of additives in processed and functional foods.” Saravanan said simplifying ingredient information and making it more accessible would help consumers make informed choices.” He also called for better monitoring. – BY HARITH KAMAL