As of Tuesday, a total of 24 batches of imported chili powder tainted with Sudan red dye — an industrial additive banned in foods — had been confirmed, and 547,238.2kg of the powders and food products that used them had been sealed or removed from shelves, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday.
The chili powders that failed inspections so far include 10 batches imported by Bao Hsin Enterprises Co (保欣企業) in New Taipei City from Sanhe Drug Co (三禾藥業) in China’s Henan Province.
Eleven batches were imported by Gin Zhan International Co (津棧國際貿易) in Kaohsiung and its affiliates, including one batch by Chia Guang International Co (佳廣國際貿易) and one by Kwang Yuan Co (廣元), which bought them from China’s Kavin Shipping Ltd, Eastrong International Co and Long Hai Tong Ji Foods Co (龍海同記食品).
Photo courtesy of the Taitung County Public Health Bureau
One batch was imported by Great Agar Enterprise Co (葛瑞特洋菜企業) in Tainan, which purchased the chili powder from China’s Zhecheng County Hengfeng (柘城縣恒豐食品) food company.
Two batches were imported by Chan Gu Products Co (長谷農產) in Yunlin County, which also sourced the chili powder from Hengfeng food company as well as Liability Limited Pacific Co in Vietnam.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has promised to complete inspections and testings of tainted products by the end of the month, and work by the agency and local health departments are progressing on schedule, FDA Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu (林金富) said.
Moreover, members of the public are encouraged to report suspected food items, such as those that have chili powder with unnatural colors, he said.
The FDA will continue to accept reports and tip-offs after this month, he said.
Meanwhile, Wu Ying-cheng (吳映澄), a dietitian, wrote on her Facebook page that while many people are surprised that Sudan red tainted chili powder was found in shacha sauce, pepper powder, curry powder and other spices, the dyes have also been found in palm oil in other countries.
Citing data from FDA border inspections from 2015 to this year, Wu said that 53 food items were found to contain Sudan red, including rose petals, chili powder and chili oil, but not yet in palm oil.
Asked about Wu’s comment, Lin on Monday said that from 2021 to Sunday, Taiwan had only imported 13,051kg of palm oil, all of which have passed their expiration date by now.
As such, none are being sold at retailers now, but the agency will start batch-by-batch inspections of imported red palm oil and test them for Sudan red, Lin said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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