(Central News Agency reporter Shen Peiyao, Taipei, 2nd) The Sudan red food safety crisis continues to expand. The Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced today that a new batch of chili powder imported from China was found to be in violation of Sudan red regulations. Currently, a total of 10 batches are unqualified, 14 Batch inspection is in progress, and all inspection results are expected to be released before next Wednesday.
This case stems from the New Taipei City Health Bureau’s recent seizure of red pepper raw materials imported by “Baoxin Enterprise Co., Ltd.” from China’s “Henan Sanhe Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.” Sudan Pigment No. 3 was found in violation of the prohibition of detection regulations and was distributed throughout Taiwan. Many downstream operators, including snacks such as shrimp, dried pork, and vegetable pancakes, were also affected.
The Sudan pigment commonly known as Sudan Red is potentially carcinogenic and is not a colorant approved for use in Taiwan. It is currently a toxic chemical substance announced by the Chemical Substances Management Administration of the Ministry of Environment. Common Sudan Red No. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.
From December 11 last year to June 10 this year, the Food and Drug Administration conducted 100% batch-by-batch inspections of Chinese chili powder at the border. Only after the inspection complies with the regulations can it be imported. It also targeted 21 exporters of unqualified chili powder from China to Taiwan. Suppliers and manufacturers will suspend acceptance of input inspection for three months starting from February 20.
The Food and Drug Administration and the local government health bureau also expanded the traceability and conducted random inspections of the Chinese chili powder exported to Taiwan by the 21 problematic manufacturers before December 11 last year. The Food and Drug Administration announced the latest inspection results through a press release today. Among the 59 batches currently sampled for inspection, 35 batches passed the test and 10 batches were found to contain sudan pigment; 14 batches are still being inspected.
The New Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office has now detained the person in charge of Baoxin Company for violating the Food Safety and Hygiene Management Act. In a telephone interview with the media in the afternoon, Lin Jinfu, deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration, said that after entering the judicial process, unless other violations of the food safety law are found, such as changing the place of origin, etc., they usually wait for the judicial results to be released, even if there is no prosecution or sentence. If found not guilty, administrative fines may still be imposed in accordance with the Food Safety Law, with fines ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$200 million.
Lin Jinfu said that there are still 14 batches of inspections, which are expected to be completed by next Wednesday (March 6); the Food and Drug Administration continues to track the local government health bureaus to remove problematic products from the shelves. As of March 1, a total of 14 batches of products have been removed from the shelves. and 26,054.1 kilograms of sealed chili powder and its products.
As for the new batch of Baoxin Enterprise Co., Ltd. that does not meet the regulations, Lin Jinfu said that Baoxin has a total of 7 batches that have failed, and the valid dates are October 22, 2015, November 23, 2015, December 6, 2015, October 4, 115, October 29, 115, January 7, 116, October 12, 115.
In addition to Baoxin Company, 7 batches of chili powder imported by Kaohsiung City’s “Jinzhan International Trading Co., Ltd.” and “Jiaguang International Trading Co., Ltd.” from “KAVIN SHIPPING LTD” in mainland China were also found to contain Sudan red violations, and have been confirmed by The case is under investigation by the Kaohsiung District Prosecutor’s Office. (Editor: Li Hengshan) 1130302
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