Tako chips banned in the territory after cancer warning noted

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Public Health has banned one of the most popular snack foods among children on island —  “Tako” is banned effective immediately.

A letter from Director, Motusa Tuileama Nua dated the July 20, 2022 and obtained by Samoa News was addressed to “all businesses (food establishment/non-Food establishments) and was titled ‘P65 warning food and skincare products prohibited to be sold locally’.

“Due to concerns raised from the public regarding food and skincare products with the P65 warning, the Department of Health has ordered such products to be removed from the shelves and not to be sold locally effective immediately.”

On Monday the DOH Facebook page posted the ban on Takos and received a lot of support from the public since the Tako chips bag contains a cancer warning that reads —  notice: Cancer-www.P65warnings.ca.gov.

Motusa pointed out that proposition 65 (P65) are warnings out of the State of California, which require businesses to provide warnings about significant exposures that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, these chemicals can be in the products that Californians purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment.

 “By requiring that this information be provided, Proposition 65 enables Californians to make informed decisions about their exposure to these chemicals.

“Because of such warning, it is for the best interest of the public that such food items and skincare products be prohibited from being sold locally,” said the Director.

Several DOH officials told Samoa News the decision is in the best interest of the people and their teams are out in the field to each and all the stores to remove the snack from store shelves.