Taiwan management of the US fast food restaurant franchise Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) said yesterday that all dishes offered in its restaurants around Taiwan are safe and free from the suspected cancer-causing dye Sudan 1.
Taiwan KFC managing director Olga Wu (
Taiwan KFC contacted the media yesterday after KFC China pulled two chicken dishes off its menu across the country on Wednesday after discovering they contained Sudan 1 dye, a synthetic industrial chemical banned for use in food. Sudan 1 dye was found in red pepper powder used as an ingredient in the KFC restaurants' New Orleans wings and drumstick burgers.
Noting that the ingredients used in the KFC restaurants around China were locally sourced, Wu said that the red pepper powder used in Taiwan's KFC restaurants is imported from Spain.
Besides, Wu said, use of dyes like Sudan 1, 2, 3 and 4 are strictly controlled in Taiwan.
As of noon yesterday, news reports from China said that Sudan 1 -- used in petrol and shoe polish but banned from food because it heightens the risk of cancer -- was distributed by a Guangzhou-based factory to suppliers in nine provinces across China for use in foods.
Sudan 1 triggered a food scare across much of Europe last month. In Britain, for example, hundreds of sauces, soups and ready-made meals have been taken off supermarket shelves since the discovery of the chemical in food on Feb. 18.
RESTRICTIONS: All food items imported from the five prefectures must be accompanied by radiation and origin certificates, and undergo batch-by-batch inspection The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday announced that almost all produce from five Japanese prefectures affected by the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant disaster would now be allowed into Taiwan. The five are Fukushima, Gunma, Chiba, Ibaraki and Tochigi. The only items that would still be blocked from being imported into the nation are those that are still banned from being circulated in Japan, the FDA added. With the removal of the ban, items including mushrooms, the meat of wild birds and other wild animals, and koshiabura” (foraged vegetables) would now be permitted to enter Taiwan, along with the other
Tropical depression TD22, which was over waters south of the Ryukyu Islands, is likely to develop into a tropical storm by this morning and pose a significant threat to Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The depression is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm named Krathon as it moves south and then veers north toward waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast, CWA forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. Given the favorable environmental conditions for its development, TD22’s intensity would reach at least typhoon levels, Hsu said. As of 2pm yesterday, the tropical depression was about 610km east-southeast of Taiwan proper’s
A new tropical storm is expected to form by early tomorrow morning, potentially developing into a medium-strength typhoon that is to affect Taiwan through Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration said today. There are currently two tropical systems circulating to the east of Taiwan, agency forecaster Hsu Chung-yi (徐仲毅) said. The one currently north of Guam developed into Tropical Storm Gebi this afternoon and is expected to veer toward Japan without affecting Taiwan, Hsu said. Another tropical depression is 600km from the east coast and is likely to develp into the named storm Krathon either late tonight or early tomorrow, he said. This
DIVA-READY: The city’s deadline for the repairs is one day before pop star Jody Chiang is to perform at the Taipei Dome for the city’s Double Ten National Day celebrations The Taipei City Government has asked Farglory Group (遠雄集團) to repair serious water leaks in the Taipei Dome before Friday next week, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said yesterday, following complaints that many areas at the stadium were leaking during two baseball games over the weekend. The dome on Saturday and Sunday hosted two games in tribute to CTBC Brothers’ star Chou Szu-chi (周思齊) ahead of his retirement from the CPBL. The games each attracted about 40,000 people, filling the stadium to capacity. However, amid heavy rain, many people reported water leaking on some seats, at the entrance and exit areas, and the