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.