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Singapore recalls Taiwan milk tea

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Singapore recalls Taiwan milk tea

Singapore recalls Taiwan milk tea

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Health authorities in Singapore ordered the recall of the Taiwanese Just Drink Milk Tea over the presence of a banned food additive, reports said Tuesday.
The beverage from the brand Chun Cui He contained L-theanine, an organic compound found in plants but which is not present on the list of permitted food additives in Singapore, according to a report by Channel News Asia. In Taiwan, the ingredient is not banned, reports said.
However, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore said no food safety risk was associated with the element, but it cautioned consumers who had any health concerns to seek medical advice.
After the milk tea went on sale at convenience stores in Singapore last month, the product became highly popular, with customers lining up at three in the morning and bottles sold out within the hour, according to local media reports.
Taiwanese food experts said that L-theanine was also legal in Japan and the United States, and that only high dosages in combination with drugs to lower blood pressure might pose a health risk. Commercial drinks mostly contained quantities too low to cause any medical issues, the experts were quoted as saying.
The drink was unlikely to be taken off shelves in Taiwan, while there was no comment from Singapore about a coffee drink available from the same Taiwanese producer.