SFA has directed Yan Tai Yit Pte. Ltd to recall Chang Ling Peanut after the detection of Cyclamate (as Cyclamic Acid). The recall is ongoing.
Cyclamate is a permitted food additive that is used as an artificial sweetener and is approved for use in certain food products in the Singapore Food Regulations.
The use of cyclamate is not allowed in peanuts.
While there are no immediate health risks from consuming peanuts with the level of cyclamate detected, prolonged excessive consumption of cyclamates should be avoided.
Consumers who have consumed the implicated products and have concerns about their health should seek medical advice. Consumers may contact their point of purchase for enquiries.
Cyclamate is a sweetener that is banned in certain countries
Cyclamate is a calorie-free artificial sweetener that was invented in 1937. It was widely used in a variety of products and was even used to sweeten Coca-Cola for a period of time. However, in 1969 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned cyclamate due to health concerns.
The ban was based on studies that had been conducted in the late 1960s which suggested that cyclamate could cause cancer in animals. The FDA also cited the lack of long-term safety studies as a reason for the ban. Since cyclamate is an artificial sweetener, it was believed that it could cause a variety of health problems if it was consumed in large amounts over a long period of time.
In addition to the health concerns, there were also legal issues surrounding cyclamate. The FDA argued that cyclamate had not been properly evaluated and tested before it was put on the market. The lack of regulations meant that the sweetener could be added to products without proper testing and with no way of knowing the potential health risks associated with it.
Despite the ban, cyclamate is still used in some countries such as Canada and Mexico. However, in the US it remains illegal and is not allowed to be added to food products.
Overall, cyclamate was banned by the FDA primarily due to safety concerns. Studies showed that it had the potential to cause cancer in animals, and there were no long-term safety studies to prove that it was safe for human consumption. In addition, the lack of regulations meant that it could be added to products without proper testing. As a result, the FDA determined that cyclamate was not safe and issued a ban on its use in the US.