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進入《TAIPEI TIMES》More chili powder batches contaminated, FDA says
Inspectors from the Kaohsiung Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration inspect a company in the city in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of the Kaohsiung Department of Health
FOOD SAFETY: A total of 26,054.1kg of chili powder and products such as shrimp snacks, carrot cookies and shredded pork have been removed from shelves
By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter
Another batch of chili powder from China was found to contain an industrial dye banned in Taiwan, making it the 10th contaminated batch announced since Friday, the Food and Drug Administration （FDA） said yesterday.
The FDA said test results on the remaining 14 batches would be released before Wednesday.
After the Yunlin County Public Health Bureau on Feb. 7 reported that a chili powder product sold in the county was found to contain the carcinogenic Sudan III dye, the source was traced to Bao Hsin Enterprises Co （保欣企業有限公司） in New Taipei City, which imported the tainted chili powder from Sanhe Drug Co （三禾藥業） in China’s Henan Province.
Follow-up investigation on the downstream companies that purchased the tainted chili powder from Bao Hsin led to many food products being recalled, including cooking spices, shrimp snacks, carrot cookies and shredded pork.
The FDA on Feb. 21 announced that it suspended chili pepper powder imports from China from 21 importers and manufacturers for three months.
The FDA on Friday said it has since Feb. 21 increased inspection on the 21 importers or food manufacturers.
Among 59 batches tested for Sudan III, 35 batches passed the test, while nine batches failed and the remaining batches were still being tested, it said.
The nine batches found to contain Sudan III included two imported by Bao Hsin, six by Gin Zhan International Co （津棧國際貿易） and one by Chia Guang International Co （佳廣國際貿易）, the agency said.
The latter two importers are registered at the same business address in Kaohsiung and both imported the Sudan III-tainted chili powder from Kavin Shipping Ltd from China, the FDA said, adding that the Kaohsiung Department of Health has been informed and local departments are working on tracing the downstream companies and food product recalls.
The FDA yesterday said that another batch of chili powder imported by Bao Hsin was found to be contaminated.
FDA Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu （林金富） said that the results of the remaining 14 batches being tested are expected before Wednesday.
Lin said prosecutors in Kaohsiung have acquired the documents of the downstream companies in the area and are investigating them.
As of yesterday, 26,054.1kg of chili powder and food products had been removed from shelves or sealed at factories, the FDA said.
Bao Hsin head Liu Ching-shih （劉慶士） was taken into custody yesterday, after being detained the previous day for questioning with four members of the company’s management, the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said.
Four other people were released, but Liu was held incommunicado as he was believed to have engaged in fraud and could therefore try to collude, tamper with witness testimony or destroy evidence if released, the office said.
Additional reporting by CNA
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
