Updated at 7:30am on Monday, June 15 to include SCH’s clearance of Tang.
With reporting from Scherry Bloul and Zac Schroedl
After some supermarkets in Qatar were told to remove tubs of the fruit-flavored drink Tang from their shelves, the state’s Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has confirmed it is safe to consume.
In a statement released late Sunday night, the SCH said:
“The Central Food Laboratory of SCH received samples of the product collected by the bodies concerned last Friday. All the stocks available in the market were checked at the entry points and huge amount of samples were collected as per directives of SCH ahead of Ramadan. The tests and analysis have shown that all the bags are safe and meet GCC specifications.”
Over the weekend, the SCH had announced in Arabic on Twitter and Facebook that samples of the drink have been taken from some hypermarkets in Qatar for tests at its central laboratory.
1) استلمت المختبرات المركزية بالأعلى للصحة عينات من منتج #تانج جمعتها الجهات المختصة الأخرى @Hassan_alsai
— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) June 13, 2015
2) وجاري تحليلها وسيتم اعلان النتائج فور صدورها @Hassan_alsai #تانج
— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) June 13, 2015
Translation: “The central laboratories at the Supreme Council of Health has received samples of the product Tang, which were collected by other authorities. They are being tested and the results will be announced once these are confirmed.”
The SCH did not state the reason for the tests, but appears to be responding to concerns on social media about possible contamination, after people posted images of holes in the foil security seal that covers the lids of the tubs.
Stores’ response
Speaking to Doha News, a manager of the Al Rayyan branch of Family Food Center (FFC) said that authorities ordered them to remove around 30 cans of the fruit-flavored drink from its shelves over the weekend amid concerns over “stickers on the lid.”
They are currently being kept in a storage room until later today, the manager said, when the SCH is expected to issue the results of its tests.
Meanwhile, a manager at Megamart’s branch at The Center said it did not stock tubs of Tang, but it is still selling 84g sachets of the powdered drink.
The Peninsula reported that municipality inspectors visited a branch of a “leading supermarket” on Friday and asked them to remove all stocks of the product pending lab testing.
“They didn’t clearly explain the reason but showed something on the lid, which was not clear to our staff,” the unnamed staffer is quoted as saying.
However, other hypermarkets have said they are still selling the drink.
A representative of Lulu Gharafa told Doha News this morning that the store had not been told to remove Tang. Tubs of the drink could be seen on the shelves for public sale last night.
Tang concerns
Tang is a powdered drink that comes in different fruit flavors and has been around for more than 50 years.
The product, now owned by North American multinational confectionery, food and beverage conglomerate Mondelez International, is renowned for being very high in sugar.
Concerns about contamination prompted Tang Arabia to post a message and video on its Facebook page advising consumers that the “hole” is not accidental. The “one-way valve” allows air that could build up in the container when it is transported to safely escape, preventing the package from being distorted or bursting.
Tang Arabia states in an online video that the valves allow the air to escape, while “keeping the product 100 percent safe.”
Thoughts?
Parents feeding their kids this artificial powder and other crappy, mostly made in the US, food (pink slime, Mansanto products, Mc Do burgers, etc.) should be punished and their kids taken from them by social services.
I would agree to your statement, if not for that “mostly made in the US” remark. Tang Arabia is not made in the US. The product is not even popular in the states.
It is an American company isn’t it? Tang Arabia is like Mc Do Arabia, an American product for the MENA region. Anyway I might be wrong by my point is to say that people must be really ignorant and careless to feed their kids these things. Not that all packaged juices are healthy but there is a clear difference between natural juice mixed with some additives and sugar and powder that are labelled juice.
Greed is the common factor, not whether the product comes from a particular region. Juice isn’t healthy either, stick to 1 or 2 whole fruits a day if health is overall concern.
You really don’t understand the concept of franchising do you?
The vast majority of the foods that are sold in a McDonald’s in Qatar are not from the U.S. (as is the case internationally); Americans don’t own the store (a local would, as is the case internationally); not doe Americans work in it. It’s like going to a grocery in Detroit and buying poor-tasting pita bread and then slamming the Greeks for a product that was made down the road.
Tang Arabia is even more distinct from the US producers of Tang. There are lots of different recipes and Tang products that vary region to region and producer to producer.
Your intense desire to blame the US for everything is blinding you to reality and how global consumerism and markets function.
It’s not really of interest where the products might be made. The problem is where they are being consumed. I agree that parents (or nannies or drivers etc) who are buying Big Macs for 10 year olds are committing a form of child abuse.
Incidentally, according to the latest World Health Organization data that I could find, the USA might have an obesity problem, but obesity is worse in 12 other countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, UAE.
Here is the WHO data
http://gamapserver.who.int/gho/interactive_charts/ncd/risk_factors/obesity/atlas.html
The GCC countries have a serious obesity issue and it is clearly related to their diet and lack of physical activity. A large of my Qatari colleagues (the young generation) eat outside almost everyday.
Most of the junk your are listing is not produced in the US, including the Tang in the article. The beef in McDonald’s burgers is also not from the US, nor is most of the food served there. As a business model, McDonald’s sources most of its food locally (for example, McDonald’s France is one of the largest single consumers of French agricultural products).
Get your fact straight before you go hating on another country (again) and assuming the US is the root of all that is wrong.
Or they can force their kids into an army-like lifestyle and feed them a 100% protein diet, until they reach teenhood and rebound and become bigger than parachutes.
Suddenly you are an expert on how to raise kids. Again, who else but good ol’ Yacine.
Now, tell us what you feel about the hadron collider… any good practices you like to suggest for these dumb engineers?
Lovely stuff, especially yellow 5 and BHA. Can’t get enough. Unfortunately not unlike what many people stuff in their bodies everyday. Look at the ingredients before buying. Or see http://everything2.com/title/Tang+Ingredients
It’s very bad for the body anyway, so good riddance!
The only reason I stopped is because of high content of sugar in it.
This product it natural selection’s turbo-mode.
Should give a short and precise statement. To end up much speculation. The food and drug agency should confirm also.
Who buys this crap?
Tang:
Helping little children shoot up and down skyscrapers for 50 years!
🙂
People really need to come off their high horse. Saying a parent should be punished for feeding their kids tang is ridiculous.
Everything is ok to eat as long as it is in moderation.
I think lack of physical activity is a bigger issue for kids is more serious than the food they eat. I ate a lot of sugar and a kid but spent half of the day outside. As a result i never became a fat kid.
Kids should be running jumping and playing. Not sitting in front of a TV and iPad all the time.
Nope. Feeding your kids Tang is indeed stupid and very careless from a parent. There is a ton of juices out there, but Tang is not one of them. It is an artificial powder full of unhealthy ingredients. If in doubt, ask a doctor. If he tells you you can give it to your kids then it is fine. If not then do not give it. Simple.
This also applies to a lot of other processed food. You are supposed to avoid it not to “eat it moderately”.
Most of you kids don’t understand what Tang is to many people in that region. Countries that were hit by civil wars and other wars like the Israeli-Palestinian, Iraqi, Libyan, Syrian etc. all know what Tang is. Tang is a culture to many of those who grew up hiding from bombs in shelters. Being a powder that requires no refrigeration to store, economical and refreshing, Tang is one of the brands/products that made it big, mainly because of very special circumstances.
Do you work for the marketing department of Tang? If not I am sure you fit the role and should probably submit your application. On a serious note, the memories you have with Tang don’t make it a decent product. We are discussing here its composition and health-related issues not its historical role in the region.
Yes, yes I am the head of marketing at Tang and i spend my time on DN forums because I believe its contributors will dictate the success of my 1 Billion $ program revenue; (2011 data).
On a more serious note, I was explaining why many people like Tang, as many thought it was too random. I was not promoting its sales or chemical and health content. You need to read things more than once Yacine. I know English is your second language, but still take your time reading kid,
I told you your story is completely off-topic and if you are trying to divert attention from the crappy product that is Tang then you failed miserably. I know it is embarrassing for a native speaker but I think it is you who should read things twice before commenting.
Hakuna your tatas Yacine. You are all talk, no substance. I guess the root to your rage is the closeted existence you are being forced to live. Don’t worry! Just step out of your closet, you’ll feel liberated.
Shabina will delete for attack. Now you can crawl back into the hole you came out of
LOL, Do you always hide behind your mama’s skirt?
Do you work for the competition as you seem to be very vocal about Tang? let the parents decide themselves ……
Tang was originally invented (or at least highly promoted) for NASA’s space missions.
at last a person who knows what Tang really is, a drink that defined a generation.
Actually “Tang” is very important in the English language……..I would hate to see these phrases die out….
-Tangs god for that
-Tangs for the memory
-Tangs ain’t what they used to be
-Tangs can only get better
and of course my very favorite movie….last “Tangso” in Paris……..not forgetting my favorite songs, “MusTANG” Sally and ‘Aint no MounTANG” high enough….
Ok, think we’re done. Tangs.
its all sugar that colored orange, that’s all it is.
Is it possible for Tang to sue in the courts for libel?
I’d rather swallow bleach than drink Tang, at least bleach kills quicker.