Health candy Mentalk popular in Malaysia, Singapore

The Health Sciences Authority announced on May 30 that lifestyle candy Mentalk contains a potentially fatal chemical, aminotadalafil, which makes it dangerous for individuals such as heart patients on certain medication to consume.

Mentalk, essentially a ginseng and coffee flavoured candy, is marketed as a "natural health food" as stated in its promotional pamphlet that lists cynomorium songaricum as one of the main ingredients.

Based on hear say, before its arrival in Singapore, it was getting rave reviews from consumers over the causeway even though it was sold for about RM120 (SG$45) a box.

Its popularity stems from its purported claims of improving blood circulation and helping men deal with impotency issues.

However, Mentalk is marketed to both men and women because improving blood circulation is not really just a guy thing. Well, at least that was what I was told.

And how would I know all these?

I was given two pieces of the candy as a sample by a friend who is a multi-level marketer in Singapore. That was about three weeks ago. He tried to convince me this stuff works, join him in his MLM venture and it would sell big time.

After the bad press surrounding Power 1 Walnut, my only thought was that its best for anyone touting "health foods" to lie low for a while.

Anyways, the verdict for Mentalk as I sampled it: Taste-wise, ginseng and coffee is not that odd a combination. It didn't tingle on my tongue, nor was it bursting with intense flavour. It just simmered and didn't taste that herbal though.

Whether it worked or not, I cannot really tell. A part of me wants to believe that it does, another part of me thinks that it is all just a placebo effect. Although there was some cajoling on the part of my multi-level maketer friend who tried to convince me that it works because he sold it to some random guy off Geylang who made an impulse purchase of 30 boxes after just taking two candy at one go.

Then again, maybe random guy just liked ginseng and coffee.

In all honesty, I'm still quite confused about how food or health supplements that are sold in Singapore get evaluated before they hit the shelves or distributed through multi-level marketing.

It seems that HSA only test these stuff out when they are alerted to it by some concerned member of the public. Or maybe some dissatisfied customer.

Wonder how are the people over the causeway affected by this piece of news.

And no, I didn't take my friend up on the MLM offer. If it's too good to be true, chances are it is.

Old blog dead and lurking somewhere in cyberspace

The old blog is dead and this is the present resurrection.

Blogging comes so naturally again, when you discover that there are some things in life that bugs you to death and it is inappropriate to keep it to yourself.

Will be filling it up with some past entries. Selective musings with some oomph at least.