Another Toxic Fruit and Vegetable Alert! 'A Fruit Loved by Taiwanese' Found with Pesticide Overrun, 79,000 kg Destroyed; 3 Seafood Items Also Fail, Full List of Violations Revealed

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced today (1st) the latest list of food products failing border inspections, uncovering multiple large-scale violations this week. Among them, a batch of 'fresh Mukaku Kan' citrus weighing 19,800 kg imported from Australia was found to contain pesticide residues exceeding regulatory limits. Additionally, 20,412 kg of 'frozen shrimp' imported from China tested positive for residual veterinary drugs.

A total of eight non-compliant products were announced this week. In addition to the above agricultural and aquatic products, the list includes Vietnamese frozen white shrimp, Seychelles frozen redskin knife fish, and French cod roe paste. The most notable case involves 20.14 metric tons of palm oil imported by 'Chi Fu Foods' from Malaysia, which was found to contain dangerously high levels of 'glycidyl fatty acid esters'—a harmful contaminant and known carcinogen.

Also on the list are Japanese sea moss imported by the parent company of the popular Japanese restaurant 'Sho U Ryotei' and Hong Kong's well-known seasoning 'Malachan,' both failing safety checks.

20-Ton Malaysian Palm Oil Contains Carcinogenic Toxin! FDA Raises Guard with 'Batch-by-Batch Inspection'

According to FDA data, the batch of palm oil imported by Chi Fu Foods Co., Ltd. from Malaysia was found to contain glycidyl fatty acid esters at 1,561 micrograms per kilogram—far exceeding the legal limit of 1,000 micrograms per kilogram. Liu Fang-Ming, Director of the FDA's Northern Regional Management Center, explained that glycidyl fatty acid esters are contaminants formed during high-temperature refining of edible oils and are classified as carcinogenic.

In response to previous concerns over benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) contamination in edible oils, the FDA has already implemented enhanced border inspection mechanisms for high-risk vegetable oils, increasing inspection rates from 20% to 50%. Although this Malaysian palm oil passed BaP testing, it simultaneously failed the glycidyl fatty acid ester test.

The entire 20.14-ton shipment has now been fully returned or destroyed. Going forward, all future shipments of the same origin and product code from this importer will be subject to 100% 'batch-by-batch inspection' at the border.

Japanese Sea Moss from 'Sho U' Parent Company Exceeds 'Inorganic Arsenic' Limits; Hong Kong's Malachan Found with Banned 'Sudan Red'

Beyond problematic oils and seafood, 3 kg of Japanese sea moss imported by 'Feng Yu Trading Co., Ltd.'—the parent company of the renowned Japanese restaurant 'Sho U Ryotei'—was found to contain inorganic arsenic at 1.7 mg per kg, exceeding the legal limit of 1.0 mg per kg for seaweed. The batch has been ordered for return or destruction.

Statistics show that the violation rate for Japanese seaweed and algae products has reached 8.0% over the past six months. The FDA has announced that starting immediately until September 30, all Japanese seaweed products will undergo enhanced inspections at rates of 20% to 50%.

Another serious violation involves 1,109 kg of 'Malachan' seasoning imported from Hong Kong by 'Cheng Ying Co., Ltd.', which tested positive for 'Sudan I' (Sudan Red)—a banned industrial dye with carcinogenic risks. As this substance is legally prohibited as an adulterant, the entire shipment has been destroyed at the border and cannot be returned.

The FDA has immediately imposed strict penalties: starting today until August 18 next year, all seasoning sauces imported from Hong Kong will undergo the strictest '100% surveillance inspection' to ensure no food safety loopholes at the border.

Full List of Non-Compliant Foods from Border Inspection