Wax Bottle Candy: A ‌Popular ⁢Chinese Snack Raises Food Safety Concerns

Reporter Li Hongdian/Reporting from Taipei

Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Health‌ and ​Welfare, Lin Jingzhi, recently addressed concerns​ about the popular Chinese snack, wax bottle candy. ⁤With Taiwan’s strict food safety regulations and rich seasonal produce, Lin questioned the‍ need to ​purchase wax and colored syrups from China, ‌which‍ may pose food safety risks.

Wax bottle candy has been a hit in China, but its‍ ingredients and production process ‌have‍ raised concerns. Han Lei, ‍chief physician of the Department ​of Nutrition at the⁢ Affiliated ‌Hospital of Qingdao University,⁢ explained that the main ingredient, wax, is a fatty substance produced by ⁤worker⁢ bees. While beeswax is used in ​various industries, including food‌ manufacturing, its use in wax bottle candy is​ questionable.

Han Lei warned that consuming large amounts of ⁣wax bottle candy can have negative‌ health effects due ‌to its low nutritional value. Moreover, some wax bottle candies are “three-no products,” lacking a manufacturing date, manufacturer, ⁢and manufacturing address, which poses a significant food safety ⁢risk.

Lin Jingzhi emphasized that Taiwan has ​a ‍wide‍ range of delicious and ​safe food options, making it unnecessary to purchase wax⁣ and colored syrups from ‍China. ‍He also noted that the ⁢production of honey, a key ‍ingredient in wax bottle candy, has declined ⁢significantly in recent years.

The Food and Drug Administration has been‌ asked to investigate the matter, and any illegal⁣ sales will be reported to the local ⁤health bureau.