Ban use of styrofoam, Caps tells govt depts
Published on: Thursday, May 28, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The Consumer Affairs Protection of Sabah (Caps) has called on all government departments especially the Health and Education Departments to ban the use of styrofoam in all its premises. Its Deputy President Jusking Ejim said on Wednesday the widespread use of styrofoam here must be made illegal due to its health and environmental implications. "For a start, departments should not allow traders operating from their premises to use styrofoam as food wrappers and cups.
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"This especially goes to hospitals and schools," he said. Ejim said developed nations like Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Korea and New Zealand have all banned the use of Styrofoam.In the country, Penang was the first state to ban the material. Styrofoam or commonly known as polystyrene is used by food operators to pack food due to it being cheap and light in weight and is made up of dioctyl phthalate, styrene particles and benzene.
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"The chemical contents of styrofoam could get into the food and drinks especially if it's hot or greasy and could cause thyroid, anaemia, insomnia, breast cancer, prostate cancer, speed up heart beat and anxiety," he claimed. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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Ejim urged the government to look into this matter seriously and ban the use of such materials on food.
