Kueh manufacturer Jian Bo Tiong Bahru Shui Kueh disputes SFA finding, says business has been 'negatively impacted'

SINGAPORE — One of the nine kueh manufacturers who had their operations suspended by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), after high amounts of benzoic or sorbic acid were detected in their products, has disputed the authority's move, saying that it has stopped using the preservatives in question for months.

The authority in charge of food safety in Singapore later revoked the suspension order, Jian Bo Tiong Bahru Shui Kueh said on Thursday (July 28).

The kueh manufacturer — which is listed as Tiong Bahru Tian Bo Shui Kueh in government records — said on Wednesday evening that it does not use either benzoic or sorbic acid in the three products named by SFA: Chwee kueh, nine layer kueh and the tapioca kueh.

Mr Eric Ang, the company's director, told TODAY on Thursday that it does not use benzoic acid, and the company has stopped using sorbic acid in April this year after a spot check by SFA. 

In its post, the company said that the suspension order by SFA had "negatively impacted our business, affected our reputation and brand name and most importantly, shaken our customers’ confidence in our products".

Benzoic and sorbic acid are common food additives used to preserve food. They are safe for consumption when used in small quantities.

However, under Singapore's food regulations, the use of these additives are banned in kueh products, except for its filling. If used in the filling, they should not exceed the permissible limits set out in the rules.

Kuehs are popular desserts, or snack or steamed "cake" items that can be sweet or savoury, found mostly in Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

SFA said that high levels of benzoic or sorbic acid were detected in the kueh and components of the kueh, such as the dough, that were being made by the nine manufacturers.

As the manufacturers were found to have not complied with regulations, SFA said that it would suspend the production, distribution and sale of the implicated kueh products.

Upon being notified that it had flouted SFA regulations on Tuesday, Jian Bo Tiong Bahru Shui Kueh said in its post on Wednesday at around 5pm that it had sent its products for a laboratory test. The results, which it received on Wednesday, were negative.

“We have submitted the laboratory test reports to SFA and are currently seeking clarifications from them on this action against us,” the company said. 

“It has negatively impacted our business, affected our reputation and brand name and most importantly, shaken our customers’ confidence in our products.”

ORDER RESCINDED

At around 1pm on Thursday, the company said that it received a formal reply from SFA to revoke its earlier direction, after reviewing the laboratory test reports it submitted.

Thanking customers, the company said that it has strong track record over its 65 years of operation, and prided itself in maintaining stringent food safety standards as stipulated in Singapore's laws for the distribution and sale of food.

"All our food items are safe for consumption. Our products do not contain sorbic acid as confirmed by SFA. Thank you for your unwavering support," it added.

TODAY has sought comment from SFA.