Eight sacks of suspected neotogen sodium cyclamide, commonly known as “magic sugar” and two sacks of vita dimeothoate that are both banned in the Philippines because of hazards they pose to human health,  were confiscated by the police yesterday.

The items were left behind by suspicious-looking persons who fled when approached by Jaro Police Station operatives led by Inspt. Raymond Deligiro conducting “Operation Sita” around 3 a.m. yesterday at Jalandoni Street, Our Lady of Lourdes in Jaro district.

Although this was the first time such products were seized in Iloilo, C/Inspt. Gilbert Gorero, Jaro PNP chief, is advising the public to be vigilant over the possible presence of these items in the market.

 Gorero said magic sugar, according to the advisory issued by the Bureau of Food and Drug Administration on Aug 7, 2000, is hazardous to health.

“The use of neotogen or magic sugar as food sweetener is prohibited due to evidence of its carcinogenicity in animals,” the advisory states.

Gorero said that, based on initial information he gathered, a sachet of the magic sugar is enough to sweeten one drum of water. Each of the eight sacks weighs, more or less, 50 kilos.

The advisory further states that the products are not registered with the FDA, so their importation or sale is illegal and merits sanctions under the Foods, Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics Act.

Gorero said he has coordinated with Dr. Amelia Guaron of the Jaro Health Center and with the Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA  send the samples to their Manila office for urgent analysis.

Meanwhile, Rone Sangatanan, officer-in-charge of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, confirmed upon inspection that the vita dimeothoate is not registered in the Philippines, so, its sale or distribution is in violation of Presidential Decree 1144.

The items are now being inventoried at the Jaro PNP.

The local police is also conducting an investigation to determine the owner of the items and the identity of the suspicious-looking persons who abandoned the products.*PNA

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