SFA 'regrets miscommunication' to Jian Bo, but high levels of sorbic acid found in its kueh products in April

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Friday (July 29) that it regretted miscommunicating to kueh maker Jian Bo Tiong Bahru Shui Kueh the wrong information that sorbic acid was allowed in its kueh products up to a permissible limit.

Notwithstanding the gaffe, SFA's tests conducted in April found excessive amounts of sorbic acid in two of Jian Bo's kueh products — even above the limit communicated to the manufacturer earlier — which led to the suspension order imposed earlier this week.

After the firm was able to produce lab test results showing its current production is free from sorbic acid, the suspension was revoked.

Jian Bo is listed as Tiong Bahru Tian Bo Shui Kueh in government records.

SFA said in response to TODAY’s queries on Friday (July 29) that it “regrets the miscommunication” to Jian Bo.

“Moving forward, SFA will review internal procedures to ensure that food safety requirements are communicated fully and accurately to food manufacturers.” 

The statement from SFA came a day after Jian Bo’s director Eric Ang told TODAY that his company had sought clarification with SFA before an inspection in April this year via email, asking if was permissible to use sorbic acid in its kuehs, and received a reply that it was.

Mr Ang added that the reputation of the 64-year-old brand has taken a hit and business has been affected as a result of the suspension this week.

On Wednesday morning, SFA announced that it detected high amounts of benzoic or sorbic acid in the products of nine kueh manufacturers, including Jian Bo.

These acids are common food additives used to preserve food, and are relatively safe in small quantities.

A TIMELINE OF EVENTS

SFA said in its statement that Jian Bo had indeed sought information on April 12 from the agency on whether sorbic acid is allowed in its products.

Jian Bo was then informed by SFA that sorbic acid is allowed in kueh products — up to the maximum permissible limits of 1,000 parts per million.

However, SFA said this is incorrect as sorbic acid is permitted only in kueh filling, but not the kueh itself.

As such, Jian Bo was informed on April 20 of the correct legal requirements.

Mr Ang told TODAY that his company immediately stopped using sorbic acid in its products that day. As for the use of benzoic acid, he claimed that it was an ingredient his company has never used.   

In any case, the correct legal requirement from SFA only came a day after an inspection was conducted on Jian Bo.

SFA said that samples of chwee kueh, nine layer kueh and tapioca kueh — the three products that were initially implicated — were taken to a laboratory for testing on April 19.

The agency said that “notwithstanding the miscommunication” on the permitted use of sorbic acid in kueh products, two of the products, the nine layer kueh and tapioca kueh, were found to contain high levels of sorbic acid above the limit of 1,000 ppm.

“As these were not in compliance with food safety requirements, and after investigations, SFA suspended on July 26 (Tuesday) the production, distribution and sale of the affected products from (Jian Bo).”

TODAY understands that the investigation and testing of food products need time, and that levels of sorbic acid found in the chwee kueh was below 1,000 ppm.

SFA's statement also confirmed that Jian Bo on Wednesday gave the agency test results that were conducted by a third-party accredited lab on Tuesday.

Since the results showed that the current production is free from sorbic acid, SFA said that it lifted the suspension of Jian Bo as “adequate measures have since been put in place”, in compliance to the Singapore Food Regulations.

“(Jian Bo) is now allowed to resume with its production, distribution and sale of the three kueh products,” it added.

When approached for comment, Mr Ang from Jian Bo said on Friday that he was “very relieved and glad” to hear that SFA has acknowledged that it was a miscommunication.

He added: “No hard feelings with SFA, (it was) a genuine mistake. Just help us clarify (with the public) and we can all move on after this incident.”

ANG MO KIO NONYA KUEH

Separately, Ang Mo Kio Nonya Kueh — one of the other nine kueh manufacturers that was ordered to be suspended by the SFA — has come out to address its customers publicly on Friday.

Ang Mo Kio Nonya Kueh's implicated products were its:

• Kueh lapis
• Red bean kueh lapis
• Black sesame kueh lapis
• Yam kueh lapis
• Kueh salat
• Tapioca kueh
• Sweet potato kueh

The company said in a Facebook post on Friday that it has found that “even without any benzoic acid in our premise, there are slight traces of benzoic acid in our products” after it sent its products for testing at an accredited laboratory on Tuesday.

“We are now checking with all our suppliers to ensure that our products are benzoic acid or sorbic acid free, so that everyone can consume our daily handmade kuehs without worries,” it added.

“We will continue working with the SFA, with full co-operation to make sure that our products are free of any substance that is bad for our customers’ health.”