Rumors spread on social networking sites about drinking cups containing carcinogens have been dismissed on by the Ministry of Environment and Water as unfounded.

“All locally-produced and imported materials used for packaging, wrapping, covering and preparing foods, and including plastics, glass, metals, ceramic, wood, cardboard and paper, are put through strict tests before they are permitted to be used in order to ensure they comply with the UAE relevant standards approved in 2012 based on EU legislations issued in 2014 and to ensure they do not pose a health risk and comply with food-safety demands,” said Saif al-Shara’, Assistant Undersecretary for Agricultural and Livestock Affairs at the Ministry, and Chairman of National Committee on Food Safety, in a statement.