Daily NEWS Srilanka

The National Association for Protection of Consumer Rights has made an allegation that suspicion has emerged about chemicals contained in an instant drink of tea patronised by consumers in Sri Lanka in a big way. It is with regard to the product of Nestea instant tea packets produced by

In most restaurants as well as in certain restaurants held during festival occasions Nestea machines have been installed and when compared to the ordinary procedure of preparing tea it is possible to prepare instant tea by mixing hot water to the powder in these packets in a more facile manner.

What the National Association for Protection of Consumer Rights argue is that the chemical known as trisodium phosphate has been added in preparing Nestea and that it incidentally is used for washing purposes. They point out that the said chemical is used with the motive of preventing tea from clotting and for the purpose of retaining the final product in a more attractive manner. They further draw attention to the fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) has mentioned that by using this chemical for consumer purposes it would result in causing kidney diseases. Therefore the WHO recommends that this chemical should be removed from food items, the Association points out. Even the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has recommended that using more than 70 mm. of trisodium phosphate per day is detrimental to the human body.

Under these circumstances the Chairman of National Association for Protection of Consumer Rights Mr. Ranjith Withanage informs that as to why the local consumer is using this product if the chemical concerned is inimical to the human body and it is the duty of those who voice their opinion on poison-free food and prevention of kidney diseases to create an impact and take steps to ban this product.