LENGGONG: The legal action that will be taken against Pure Stevia, a product manufactured by VJS Cosmo Enterprise, will serve as a warning to other companies who misrepresent their products.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the ministry would continue monitoring the sale of stevia products to ensure that the sugar substitute products come from genuine ingredients and not a combination of dangerous chemicals.
"The ministry's Food Safety and Quality Division has conducted a thorough research and checked on 14 or 15 stevia manufacturers in the country. So far, only one company has been identified as selling fake stevia products.
"As such, we have ordered the company to recall its product from the market. Firms found to be misrepresenting its product can be investigated under the Food Act 1983," Dr Subramaniam told reporters after attending the opening of the Lenggong Health Clinic.
The clinic was officially opened by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah Muizzudiin here today.
Last month, a Malay daily reported that laboratory tests done by Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and Universiti Putra Malaysia showed that the 10 stevia products in the country do not contain the plant extract, but instead, a combination of dangerous chemicals.