Malaysia removes soy sauce from shelves

According to a Malaysian health official, Malaysia has ordered soy sauce and seasoning products from several countries off food shelves for fear that they cause cancer. Last month, the British Food Standards Agency warned that several brands of Chinese soy sauce contained 3-MCPD, which could cause cancer if taken daily. According to local Malaysian newspapers, 22 soy sauce and seasoning products from China, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore were found to have excessive levels of 3-MCPD, a cancer-causing chemical, and were withdrawn from supermarkets. A Malaysian health official confirmed remarks by Malaysian Health Minister Chua Jui Meng, who said banned products did not comply with the 20 parts per billion level set by the European Union for food products. "Any food product found contravening this will be seized and destroyed immediately,"​ Chua said in the New Straits Times daily.