KOTA TINGGI: The Health Ministry is investigating complaints that some imported honey contains highly toxic substances, said Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam.
The ministry has the authority to stop the import and sale of the product in the country if the claims were found to be true, he said.
“The Food Safety and Quality Division (of the ministry) is checking on the complaints. We will examine the outcome and act,” he told reporters after launching the Asean Dengue Day and National Combi Convention 2016 in Desaru near here yesterday.
Dr Subramaniam said he expected the test results to be known next week.
Several foreign news portals had reported that investigations were being conducted on honey allegedly with highly toxic substances.
Dr Subramaniam also said that he had applied for an additional allocation in Budget 2017 for the Communication for Behavioural Impact (COMBI) programme to enhance community awareness on the Aedes mosquito and dengue.
He said the role of the COMBI programme was seen as important in coming up with various ideas to reduce the incidence of dengue, and this had been proven with a reduction in the number of cases, especially deaths.
“Between January and Sept 7, a total of 77,144 cases of dengue fever with 174 deaths were reported in the country compared to 84,457 cases with 232 deaths during the corresponding period last year,” he said.
Dr Subramaniam said the statistics showed a 25 per cent drop in the number of deaths from the disease.
Last year, the ministry received RM3 million for the programme, which was distributed to about 3,000 COMBI teams comprising more than 60,000 members around the country. — Bernama