Do you think your sago't gulaman (a popular Filipino refreshment that contains seaweed jelly and tapioca pearls) makes you feel good this summer? Think again -- your favorite street vendor may be using "magic sugar" on your drink, an artificial sweetener that can take a toll on your health.
ABS-CBN News recently caught a vendor based in Carriedo Street in Manila in the act of adding magic sugar on his sago't gulaman. As a result, Bong (not his real name) was brought to the authorities for questioning.
According to Bong, he only resorted to using such a hazardous product to cut down on costs. A pack of magic sugar only costs P30, which can sweeten two huge containers of sago't gulaman.
"We use brown sugar for the gulaman, but we add magic sugar so the sweet flavor would last longer even if we add ice," Bong said in Filipino.
Magic sugar, said to be smuggled from Indonesia, is widely sold in Quiapo and Divisoria. Vendors there, however, denied such when ABS-CBN News tried to buy a few packs of the artificial sweetener.
As authorities continue to look for distributors and suppliers of magic sugar, the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) renewed its call to be wary of summer coolers sold in streets and shabby canteens as these may contain the hazardous artificial sweetener.
Magic sugar contains sodium cyclamate, a substance banned in most countries for increasing the incidence of urinary bladder cancer, among other diseases. Report from Alex Santos, ABS-CBNNews.com
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