Health Warning Bubble Tea

Consumer Center Bavaria warns of additives

05/30/2012

The consumer center Bavaria warns of possible health risks through the fashion drink Bubble Tea. The brightly colored fashion drink contained „many colors and flavors, acidulants and preservatives“, Which „not always clearly marked ", so the statement in the current communication of the consumer center Bavaria.

Also individual health insurance funds and the professional association of the pediatricians (BVKJ) had warned in the past months already against possible health hazards by the fashion drink. The main focus was on the high sugar and calorie content and the danger of swallowing due to the contained globules. The consumer center Bavaria now points to potentially questionable ingredients of the bubble tea. In a sample in the Munich area, the consumer advocates found that the acidulants contained and the colorants, flavors and preservatives were not always clearly marked and the staff in the bubble tea bars could often give no information about the actual ingredients.

Danger of swallowing with bubble tea
Originally, Taiwan's bubble tea was a natural product made from black or green tea. Over time, however, the mixture changed and the natural ingredients were replaced with artificial additives. The contained, pea-sized globules are soaked in flavor-intensive fruit syrup, which they release when bursting in the mouth. The bubble tea is drunk - similar to milkshake - with the help of a thick straw, through which also fit the beads. For the professional association of paediatricians this is a special risk of fashion drink. Especially with smaller children, there is an increased risk of swallowing due to the globules, which in the worst case could lead to lung collapse, the BVKJ warned about three months ago. The popularity of the bubble-teas, however, this warning has brought no demolition.

Warnings about bubble tea are not widely heard
Even the hint of the technicians health insurance that bubble tea with 300 to 500 kilocalories per 200 milliliters is a veritable calorie bomb, does not prevent children and adolescents from enjoying the brightly colored fashion drink. The regular consumption of the risk of obesity and related diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc.) is increased significantly later in life, the bubble tea connoisseurs little. So probably the current warning of the consumer center Bavaria will find little hearing. But at least the bubble tea bar operators at the Consumer Headquarters may be teaching and, in the future, making sure that the staff is sufficiently trained to provide more detailed information on the bubble teas ingredients. Because the general statement contains flavorings or preservatives is not sufficient to inform the customer. Instead, for example, would be „For particularly sensitive people also a labeling of allergenic ingredients desirable“, emphasized the nutrition expert of the consumer center Bavaria, Daniela Krehl. A corresponding labeling will be required by law from 2014 anyway. (Fp)

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