The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) warned the public Wednesday against using a brand of Chinese paper cup because the product violates manufacturing safety standards. The paper cup brand, identified by the barcode 3101985520006 and with a capacity of 60 millimeters, has been found unsafe for use. It could lead to health problems because of an unacceptable polyethylene coating and poor paper quality. The warning comes after a study assessed the safety and suitability of the brand of paper cup. When using disposable paper cups, the SFDA has urged the public to use products labeled with food safety signs. Consumers have been urged to look for the name of the manufacturing company, appropriate use for cold or hot drinks, or as food containers. The SFDA said that it is working to withdraw this product from the market and ban it from entering the Kingdom. Products that are safe to use are cold paper cups which have a fine polyethylene lining bonded onto the inside and most of the food paper cups are unlined. Hot paper cups can be a single wall heavy board or an insulating double or triple wall construction. They all have a thin polyethylene lining to ensure a watertight seal. The majority of paper cups are sealed with a polyethylene lining bonded to the paper although there are still some waxed paper cups made for soufflés and water cup dispensers.
