The Department of Health (DOH) said that during its latest round of inspections of 13 types of red yeast rice currently on the market, four were found to contain levels of citrinin that were two to three times the legal limit.
In recent years, foodstuffs made with red yeast rice have become popular because it is believed to reduce cholesterol and provide other health benefits. Red yeast rice products are made from rice and a red yeast called Monascus purpureus. Fermented rice is used as a food preservative, food coloring and an ingredient in rice wine.
However, if red yeast rice is not properly preserved or packaged, the amount of the toxin citrinin present can increase to levels harmful to the human body. Health officials therefore conducted inspections on 13 types of red yeast rice and found that four types contained citrinin between 10.2ppm (parts per million) to 14.5ppm, when the maximum legal limit allowed in such foods is only 5ppm.
Three of the red yeast rice products that contained too much citrinin were found in Taipei City, while one was found in Tainan County. Health officials have ordered that the products be immediately removed from shelves and they are investigating their origin.
Other foodstuffs made with red yeast were also inspected by the DOH, and all nine types of processed food passed inspections. Health officials said that 20 types of rice and wheat products, 19 types of coffee beans, 18 types of apple juice drinks, 10 types of infant formula and 28 types of solid baby food were all found to comply with food safety regulations.
The DOH said that because citrinin is produced naturally by fungi such as red yeast, it is not advisable to consume too much food made using it. When shopping for red yeast, consumers should choose well-known brands and products that are vacuum-packaged and refrigerated to avoid consuming too much toxin, it added.
Taiwan is stepping up plans to create self-sufficient supply chains for combat drones and increase foreign orders from the US to counter China’s numerical superiority, a defense official said on Saturday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, the official said the nation’s armed forces are in agreement with US Admiral Samuel Paparo’s assessment that Taiwan’s military must be prepared to turn the nation’s waters into a “hellscape” for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Paparo, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, reiterated the concept during a Congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday. He first coined the term in a security conference last
Prosecutors today declined to say who was questioned regarding alleged forgery on petitions to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, after Chinese-language media earlier reported that members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Youth League were brought in for questioning. The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau confirmed that two people had been questioned, but did not disclose any further information about the ongoing investigation. KMT Youth League members Lee Hsiao-liang (李孝亮) and Liu Szu-yin (劉思吟) — who are leading the effort to recall DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) and Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) — both posted on Facebook saying: “I
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), who led efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), was released on bail of NT$80,000 today amid outcry over his decision to wear a Nazi armband to questioning the night before. Sung arrived at the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a recall petition forgery case last night wearing a red armband bearing a swastika, carrying a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and giving a Nazi salute. Sung left the building at 1:15am without the armband and covering the book with his coat. Lee said today that this is a serious
RSS