The Department of Health (DOH) has begun to check each batch of imported shellfish from South Korea in the wake of a recent incident of suspected food poisoning from consumption of a South Korean raw oyster, a DOH official said yesterday.
“Since June 9, we have begun to check oyster and shellfish imports from South Korea batch by batch,” said Tsai Shu-chen (蔡淑貞), a section chief of the department’s Food and Drug Administration.
However, according to Tsai, so far only one 100kg batch of shellfish from South Korea is awaiting customs clearance and is being inspected.
Local health authorities have temporarily sealed imported oysters from South Korea, which amounted to 114,210 oysters in 7,204 boxes, she said.
Since late May, 24 people have reported nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea after eating at Taipei restaurants in the Eatogether chain.
Earlier this month, dozens of similar cases were reported in Greater Taichung by people who consumed food from Eatogether restaurants.
Initial investigations showed that the problem was caused by eating raw oysters from South Korea. Inspections at the three Eatogether restaurants in Taipei and those in Greater Taichung also found sanitation problems in the kitchen, including a pileup of waste and inadequate refrigeration.
“The DOH has begun an epidemiological study of the cases,” Tsai said.
She also said that if the food poisoning is related to contaminated South Korean shellfish reported to have been exported to the US, the department is not ruling out pulling South Korean shellfish from shelves.
Reports said the US Food and Drug Administration is urging US retailers to pull South Korean shellfish from store shelves because of possible contamination with human waste and norovirus.
The warning covers all fresh, frozen, canned or processed mollusks from South Korea.
Taiwan is monitoring the situation, but has refrained from following suit.
Five countries have in the past few months canceled preferential visa treatment for Taiwan passport holders due to pressure from China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. It was responding to a report by the National Audit Office that the number of countries offering preferential visa treatment to holders of Taiwan passports had dropped from 171 at the end of last year to 166 in April. In its Central Government Budget Audit Report, the National Audit Office also said that the ministry had failed to provide timely updates on the visa changes, which could affect Taiwan passport holders’ overseas travel. In response
More Taiwanese spectators at the Paris Olympics have reported having signs and banners confiscated by security staff or snatched by Chinese fans. Sandy Hsueh (薛雅俶), president of the Taiwanese Association in France, said that three security personnel confiscated a blank piece of cardboard from her at Sunday’s men’s doubles badminton final, in which Taiwan’s Lee Yang (李洋) and Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) defeated China’s Liang Weikeng (梁偉鏗) and Wang Chang (王昶) to win their second consecutive Olympic gold medal in the event. A staff member told her they had “received an instruction from the Olympic Games saying that anything related to Taiwan or
DISCRIMINATORY: Airlines’ uniform requirements contravene the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, a watchdog said Airline companies’ appearance requirements obliging female flight attendants to wear pencil skirts and high heels are discriminatory, and they should be able to have the option to wear pants, the National Human Rights Commission said in a report yesterday. Completing a year-long probe, commission members said the uniform requirements of Taiwan’s air carriers contravened the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). To fight gender-based discrimination, government agencies should issue guidelines and require airlines to make changes so that female flight attendants have the option to wear pants, the report said. The Taoyuan Flight Attendants’ Union in
COGNITIVE WARFARE: The People’s Liberation Army’s recent military exercises near Taiwan aim to intimidate the Taiwanese public, a legislator said Two sorties of Chinese drones were detected flying around the perimeter of Taiwan proper between 6am on Saturday and 6am yesterday, according to the Ministry of National Defense. A total of 31 Chinese military aircraft — which included several drones — and 12 Chinese warships were detected operating in and near the Taiwan Strait over the 24-hour period, the ministry said. Institute for National Defense and Security Research fellow Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲) said the maneuvers were likely aimed at affecting public sentiment in Taiwan, demonstrating defiance toward the US’ two-plus-two talks with India and Australia, and enacting China’s polarized strategy of pushing