DOHA: All batches of popular drink Tang are expected to be back in the shelves by today with the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) ruling out the possibility of contamination of the product.
Laboratory tests have confirmed that the product is safe for consumption, SCH said yesterday.
The authorities had ordered an unofficial recall of some batches of the product from the local market and collected samples for laboratory tests.
“The Central Food Laboratory of SCH received samples of the product collected by the bodies concerned last Friday. All the stocks available in the market were checked at the entry points and huge amount of samples were collected as per directives of SCH ahead of Ramadan. The tests and analysis have shown that all the bags are safe and meet GCC specifications,” said a SCH statement.
SCH said video clips were posted earlier on social media showing holes on the foil of Tang tubs. The tests, however, showed that the holes on the internal cover in some batches of the product were added by the manufacturer as a pressure relief system.
Mondelez International, the North American multinational conglomerate and manufacturer of Tang said yesterday that the concerns being raised about the possible health hazards of the drink were baseless.
In a statement to The Peninsula in response to a report it carried yesterday on Tang recall in Qatar, Mondelez International said it had recently received inquiries from the region with regard to puncture marks on the foil covering the lid of Tang tubs.
“The puncture marks on the foil seal in TANG tub packs are actually part of the production process and are performed at our manufacturing plants.
“The foil is punctured acting as a pressure relief valve to protect the quality and safety of our products when transported and sold in high altitude retail environments,” said the statement.
The puncture marks are one-way pressure valves (from inside out) that release air from the tub.
The air release system is a global industry quality standard found in all food and beverage products handled in high altitude areas, it added. The Peninsula
