E. Coli超标 in French Cheese! 13 Imported Products Intercepted at Border, All to Be Returned or Destroyed

Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today (21st) that 13 non-compliant products were intercepted at the border last week. Among them, three batches of food containers imported from China were found to exceed limits for evaporated residue and chloroform-soluble substances, and must be entirely returned or destroyed. Additionally, one batch of French cheese imported by Lianfu Foods Co., Ltd. tested positive for pathogenic E. coli in all five samples, with Most Probable Number (MPN) of E. coli ranging from 150 to 1,100 per gram, and must also be returned or destroyed.

The FDA stated that the non-compliant products intercepted at the border include chocolate-flavored nut coffee powder from the U.S., lemongrass from Thailand, mustard oil from India, paper boxes and baking paper from China, French cheese, corn from the U.S., basmati rice from India, lettuce from Thailand, and cilantro from Thailand.

The first and second batches of food containers from China, declared by importers Heyijia Co., Ltd. and Taisu Enterprise Co., Ltd., were tested using n-heptane at 25°C for one hour. The results showed evaporated residue levels of 54 ppm and 172 ppm, and chloroform-soluble substances of 44 ppm and 142 ppm, respectively. According to the 'Hygiene Standards for Food Utensils, Containers, and Packaging,' for paper-based materials, if the evaporated residue exceeds 30 ppm, the chloroform-soluble substances must not exceed 40 ppm.

The third batch, declared by importer Quan Haitong Co., Ltd., involved Chinese baking paper tested with 4% acetic acid at 95°C for 30 minutes, revealing an evaporated residue of 35 ppm. According to the standards, for 'metal alloys with synthetic resin coatings on food-contact surfaces,' the evaporated residue under these conditions must not exceed 30 ppm.

As a result, the FDA has adjusted inspection protocols: Heyijia and Taisu Enterprise are now subject to 100% batch inspection, while Quan Haitong faces enhanced sampling inspections at 20–50%.

Regarding the French cheese imported by Lianfu Foods, E. coli MPN ranged from 150 to 1,100 per gram, and all five samples tested positive for pathogenic E. coli. According to the 'Microbiological Hygiene Standards for Foods,' for cheese products, no more than two out of five samples may show E. coli levels between 10 and 100 MPN/g, and no sample may exceed 100 MPN/g. Pathogenic E. coli must not be detected at all. Therefore, this batch must be returned or destroyed.

The FDA has placed Lianfu Foods under 100% batch inspection.

From January 13 to July 13, 2026, the FDA reviewed 1,461 batches of other French cheeses, of which 6 failed inspection (0.4% failure rate), all due to E. coli and pathogenic E. coli violations. Since June 9, 2026, enhanced sampling inspections (20–50%) have been implemented for other French cheeses until August 20, 2026.