Malaysian tea manufacturer fined over banned colourings
A tea manufacturer has been fined RM20,000 ($6,376) for producing teas contaminated with prohibited colouring substances.
Gold Leaf Manufacturing Company received the fine following a four-year trial that sampled and tested tea dust from retail stores in 2007.
The analysis of both samples was conducted by Malaysia’s Department of Chemistry, which found that colouring substances, Sunset Yellow FCF and Tartrazine, both banned under the 1985 Food Regulation Act, has been used.
The company has already been convicted for the same offence three times, in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Prosecuting officer, Samuil-Ashton Satu, said that the addition of colouring to tea was unhealthy for consumption and could damage health.
