GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has urged the Health Ministry to prohibit the use of ethylene oxide as a fumigant in the food industry.
This follows the discovery of the cancer-inducing substance in two types of instant noodles by Taipei's Department of Health.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said this was not the first time that ethylene oxide was detected in instant noodles.
He said last October, the ministry announced that ethylene oxide residue was detected in instant noodles from Indonesia.
He said in August last year, the ministry recalled an ice cream product found to be contaminated with ethylene oxide.
"The recent discovery of ethylene oxide in instant noodles is just the tip of the iceberg.
"Other processed food and food ingredients in the market could be contaminated with the carcinogen as well," he said today.
Ethylene oxide is a gaseous substance with a range of potential applications due to its highly reactive nature.
It is used in the food industry as a fumigant because of its capability to disinfect without using heat.
Mohideen said the fumigation of food and food storage areas with ethylene oxide had been discontinued in many parts of the world, including the European Union.
He said due to its highly toxic nature, ethylene oxide was classed as a germ cell mutagen, a carcinogen and a reproductive toxin.
He added that in spite of its toxicity, some countries, such as Canada, the United States and India, still allowed the use of ethylene oxide as a fumigant in applications relating to food, including freight containers and in warehouses.
"As such, cross-contamination of products by ethylene oxide is common especially during storage and transportation.
"Studies have shown that food products, including herbs, spices, nuts, cocoa beans, cocoa, raisins, dried vegetables and gums, are often treated with ethylene oxide.
"In view of the toxicity of ethylene oxide, CAP calls on the ministry to prohibit the use of ethylene oxide as a fumigant by the food industry.
"Tests should also be conducted on processed food and food ingredients for the presence of ethylene oxide, especially those coming from countries that are still using it.
"The recurring reports on unsafe Malaysian food products by overseas authorities clearly show that our food safety monitoring is inadequate," he stressed.