Yi Mu Ri and Xian Yu Xian Also Affected! Louisa Coffee Tests '2.3 Million Times Over Limit' for Enterobacteriaceae; Full List of 18 Failing Businesses

As summer consumption peaks, the Taipei City Health Bureau has released the latest '2016 2nd Round Inspection Results for Loose Beverages, Ice Products, and Toppings.' Among 131 inspected samples, 18 failed to meet hygiene standards, resulting in a non-compliance rate of 13.7%. Penalized businesses include well-known chains such as Louisa Coffee, He Cha Lou, Yi Mu Ri, Qi Zhan Cha, Xian Yu Xian, Komeda Coffee, and Hanlai Harbor.

The inspection covered ice products, edible ice, beverages, cooked toppings, and other ingredients. Key tests included Salmonella, Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. All samples tested negative for Salmonella, but 17 beverage and ice products still exceeded the legal limit of 10 CFU per milliliter (or gram) for Enterobacteriaceae after retesting.

Among the 17 microbiologically non-compliant items, the highest reading was from 'Ceylon Black Tea with Ice' sold at 'Louisa Coffee (Neihu Carrefour Store),' which tested at 2.3×10⁷ CFU/mL—approximately 2.3 million times the legal limit.

Other microbiologically超标 items include:

Chain Tea and Coffee: - He Cha Lou Qingguang Store: 'He Ding Black Tea (No Ice)' - Qi Zhan Cha Neihu Jiangnan Store: 'Qi Zhan Black Tea (With Ice)' - Yi Mu Ri Jilin Nanjing Store: 'Oil-Cutting Buckwheat Tea' - Louisa Nanjing Xinsheng Branch: 'British Century Black Tea Ice Blended' - Komeda Coffee Nanjing Store: 'Floating Honeydew Soda' - Da Nuoya Beverage Wanfang Store: 'Lilith Black Tea' - Touch Cafe Vending Machine: 'Freshly Brewed Black Tea' - Black Tea House: 'Black Tea'

Ice and Desserts: - Xian Yu Xian Taipei Songyan Store: 'Shaved Ice' - ANDALIFE An Da Life: 'Milk Soft Serve' - Doufu Village Sanchuang Store: 'Silken Tofu Ice Cream' - Chan Feng Tea House: 'Almond Sesame Red Bean Paste'

Food and Other: - Hanlai Harbor: 'Barley Tea' - New Yonghe Soy Milk: 'Unsweetened Soy Milk' - Doujiang Ge Snack Shop: 'Soy Milk'

For businesses exceeding microbial limits, the Taipei City Health Bureau imposed fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$3 million under Articles 17 and 48 of the Food Safety and Sanitation Management Act. Total penalties amounted to NT$570,000.

'Yi Mu Ri (Jilin Nanjing Store)' and 'Qi Zhan Cha (Neihu Jiangnan Store)' were penalized NT$60,000 each due to repeat violations within one year, while most others received NT$30,000 fines.

Additionally, one topping, 'Original Flavor Crystal Balls' (sold by Te Hao He Tonghua Store), tested positive for sorbic acid (0.08 g/kg), a preservative not permitted for use. The Health Bureau ordered an immediate recall and referred the case to the New Taipei City Health Bureau for source investigation.

Food Safety Advisory: Four Key Hygiene Management Points for Businesses

The Health Bureau’s Food and Drug Administration urges businesses to strictly follow four hygiene management principles, especially during summer when high temperatures promote bacterial growth:

1. Environmental and Equipment Hygiene: Maintain clean production and sales areas; regularly disinfect containers; strictly control refrigerator storage temperatures. 2. Personnel Hygiene: Staff should undergo regular health checks, practice hand hygiene and disinfection; any wounds must be properly bandaged and covered with waterproof gloves. 3. Ingredient Sourcing: Verify hygiene practices of ice and topping suppliers; retain complete purchase records and invoices. 4. Water Quality Monitoring: Use certified water filtration systems and regularly replace filters in ice machines and water dispensers.

The Health Bureau urges businesses not to be complacent. For food safety inquiries, the public can call the Taipei Citizen Hotline at 1999 or visit the official Taipei City Health Bureau website for the full inspection list.