Toxic Baby Food Again! 'Famous Japanese Snack' Exceeds Heavy Metal Limits! 13 Batches of Non-Compliant Products Seized by Taiwan FDA, Full List Revealed

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced today (11) the latest list of non-compliant imported goods, with 13 batches of food and food utensils failing safety inspections. Violations include mycotoxins, heavy metal residues, pesticide overruns, and hygiene issues in food containers. Among them are infant foods with excessive heavy metals, large quantities of Vietnamese peanut butter containing aflatoxin, and multiple Chinese-imported tableware and containers failing to meet hygiene standards. The FDA emphasized that all non-compliant products have been intercepted at the border and will be returned or destroyed, with none entering the domestic consumer market.

This border inspection demonstrates a strict control mechanism, testing various daily foods and infant products. For importers with more serious violations, the border defense has increased inspection rates to prevent non-compliant products from slipping through.

Could baby snacks contain heavy metals? Which components exceeded limits in Japanese rice crackers and Vietnamese peanut butter?

In imported food, the safety line for infant consumption has shown vulnerabilities. 'Infant rice crackers' imported by Yume Ya Enterprise Co., Ltd. from Japan were found to contain 0.067 mg/kg of cadmium, a heavy metal. Taiwan's regulations for infant cereal-based complementary foods are strict, with a cadmium limit of 0.04 mg/kg. This batch clearly exceeded the standard. The FDA has responded by upgrading the importer's inspection mechanism to 'enhanced batch inspection,' increasing the inspection rate to 20–50%.

Another major violation involved Vietnamese peanut butter imported by Pinaz Food Co., Ltd. Border inspections revealed aflatoxin B1 levels at 4 μg/kg and total aflatoxin at 5 μg/kg. According to Taiwan regulations, peanut products for direct consumption must not exceed 2 μg/kg for aflatoxin B1 and 4 μg/kg for total aflatoxin. This 5.14-ton batch of peanut butter, due to toxin overruns, was fully intercepted at the border and must be returned or destroyed.

Can Chinese-imported tableware be used safely? Violation details of cup lids, cutting boards, and paper food trays revealed?

Beyond food itself, the safety of food-contact utensils is also concerning. In this inspection, five batches of Chinese food utensils failed to meet standards. Cup lids imported by Teng Feng Hotel Co., Ltd. and 'Little Bear Plates' imported by Tai Shu Enterprise Co., Ltd. both tested positive for fluorescent whitening agents. According to Taiwan's 'Hygiene Standards for Food Utensils, Containers, and Packaging,' paper containers in direct contact with food must not contain fluorescent whitening agents.

Additionally, two batches of polypropylene cutting boards imported by Bao Xing Marketing Consulting Co., Ltd. showed evaporation residues of 73 ppm and 103 ppm after a 4% acetic acid, 95°C, 30-minute leaching test—far exceeding the legal limit of 30 ppm. Paper food trays imported by Hsing-Chung Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. also tested at 40 ppm. For Teng Feng Hotel and Bao Xing Marketing Consulting, which had serious violations, the FDA has raised their inspection level directly to 100% 'batch-by-batch inspection.'

Are natural ingredients and spices safe? Violations in rice, seaweed, and multiple spices involving pesticides and heavy metals?

In the category of agricultural products and spices, traditional ingredients from multiple countries were intercepted. Pakistani mixed spice powder tested positive for the banned pesticide Isophenphos. Indian parsley powder and parsley seeds both contained pesticide Chlorpyrifos residues. Vietnamese rice was found to contain the prohibited pesticide Flutriafol.

Japanese-imported seafood 'Caulerpa' (sea grapes) also had two non-compliant batches, with inorganic arsenic levels reaching 1.3 mg/kg and 1.6 mg/kg, exceeding the algae inorganic arsenic limit of 1.0 mg/kg. The FDA reiterated that all non-compliant products are strictly controlled, and no non-compliant goods are allowed to enter the market, ensuring the safety of public diets.