Taipei: Sugar-coated and flavored betel nuts have been sold in Taiwan since last year, raising concerns from the Taiwan Betel Nut and Oral Cancer Prevention Association, which is urging the early passage of a bill to regulate their sale. The association made this call on Friday, highlighting the urgency of the issue.
According to Focus Taiwan, the association issued a press release on March 20, World Oral Health Day, emphasizing that betel nuts, identified as a group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, are appearing in new, potentially more appealing forms. These new products are being sold at major night markets in cities like Taoyuan, Taichung, Chiayi, and Tainan, where sugar-coated betel nuts are marketed as a new flavor of traditional candied haws since February last year.
Furthermore, the association noted the availability of "flavored betel nuts" on online marketplaces, which offer a variety of flavors such as goji, coffee, curry, and preserved fruit. The group expressed concern that these new forms of betel nuts might lower public awareness of their risks and potentially attract minors.
The association stressed that whether consumed with lime or not, betel nuts pose a significant cancer risk. Although there is a draft bill aimed at preventing health hazards from betel quid chewing, it has been stalled since its 60-day preview period concluded over a year ago. Currently, no legal framework exists to govern these new betel nut products.
The association urged the Cabinet to expedite cross-departmental coordination to enable the bill's implementation. This legislation is intended to protect minors and pregnant women while ensuring consistent funding for oral cancer screenings and betel nut rehabilitation initiatives.
Chang Yung-ming, head of the Department of Oral Health under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated that the bill is still under discussion. Regarding the flavored betel nuts, the department is consulting with legal experts to define "flavor" in legal terms for inclusion in the bill. In the interim, the department has prioritized this issue in this year's public awareness campaigns, and Chang mentioned plans to review reports on sugar-coated betel nut sticks and direct local health departments to take action.