Do not use these products
Five varieties of a 'chopstick helper' product were found to contain high levels of formaldehyde and melamine
Consumers have been advised not to use five variations of “chopsticks helpers” due to their high levels of formaldehyde and melamine, which the Food Safety and Security Authority warned could migrate onto food coming into contact with the products.
The authority said Friday that the panda, bear, cat, rabbit and lion-themed variations of the Chopsticks Helper product manufactured in China “present a significant and unacceptable risk to consumer health”.
Both formaldehyde and melamine are used in coatings and laminates, with the former a carcinogen and the latter posing serious risks, in particular to the kidneys, if ingested.
The products' product codes are 6094071, 6094072, 6094073, 6094074 and 6094075.
Consumers are advised not to use the products listed and either dispose of them or return them to the store from which they were purchased.
For further information, the public may contact the Food Safety Authority on telephone number +356 26025000 from Monday to Friday between 8am and 3pm, or by sending an email to info.fssa@gov.mt.