Garlic from China, but it's a 'Product of Singapore'

Some industry players want clearer labels for imported food that's processed, packaged here

Gold Kili Food general manager Audrey Ho says the packaging of her firm's products states that they are produced in Malaysia, even though it is a Singapore brand. Gold Kili moved part of its production to Johor last year, spending about RM6 million (
Gold Kili Food general manager Audrey Ho says the packaging of her firm's products states that they are produced in Malaysia, even though it is a Singapore brand. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Top: Reach Trading imports raw garlic from China and shallots from the Philippines. They are peeled in Singapore and then labelled "Product of Singapore". Above: These milk labels say "Product of Singapore", but do not indicate where the raw milk com
Reach Trading imports raw garlic from China and shallots from the Philippines. ST PHOTOS: KEVIN LIM
Gold Kili Food general manager Audrey Ho says the packaging of her firm's products states that they are produced in Malaysia, even though it is a Singapore brand. Gold Kili moved part of its production to Johor last year, spending about RM6 million (
These milk labels say “Product of Singapore”, but do not indicate where the raw milk comes from. ST PHOTOS: KEVIN LIM
Joyce Lim
Senior Correspondent
Updated
Nov 17, 2019, 02:17 PM
Published
Nov 17, 2019, 05:00 AM
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A pack of peeled garlic is labelled "Product of Singapore", as is a carton of milk.

An unknowing consumer could therefore be forgiven for assuming that both originated in the Republic, but in fact one comes from China and the other, Australia.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on November 17, 2019, with the headline Garlic from China, but it's a 'Product of Singapore'. Subscribe

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