The Bureau of Food and Drugs in Central Visayas reiterated its warning against the use of the illegal sweetener known as "magic sugar" which, it said, causes cancer.

At a forum held in line with the Nutrition Month celebration in Oriental Negros by the Philippine Information Agency in Dumaguete City recently, the BFAD said some vendors in the city continue to use the sugar as sweetener in their drinks.

A member of a local city women's group shared how she confronted a vendor suspected to be using the illegal sweetener in a coffee she bought. Neotogen or the "magic sugar" is a cheaper and sweeter substitute than cane sugar, and has been used by some vendors selling juice drinks and such, a BFAD advisory said.

It added that magic sugar is prohibited due to evidence of its carcinogenicity in animals. Neotogen is not registered with the BFAD. As such, the importation, distribution or sale of the product is illegal and subject to sanctions and penalties stipulated in the Foods, Drugs, Devices, and Cosmetics Act, the foods regulation agency said.

The sugar still persists as it is imported illegally and allegedly smuggled into the country through the southern backdoor. BFAD-7 urged consumers who encounter incidents of vendors using magic sugar to immediately make a formal complaint to BFAD by writing to Director Susana Madarieta indicating specifics, like the name of the store and a location map, a BFAD-7 staff said.

Once BFAD receives the letter, the regional bureau will coordinate with the City Health Office and Sanitary Health Inspector and the BFAD personnel assigned in the area, for an ocular inspection. Samples will likewise be collected for testing at the BFAD laboratory in Mandaue, Cebu. BFAD will then write a report and submit it to its legal office in Manila for proper action.*RG

back to top