Another Toxic Fruit and Vegetable Alert! Pesticide超标 Found in a Popular Fruit Among Taiwanese, 13,000 kg Destroyed; One Vegetable Also Fails Inspection – Full List of Violations Revealed

On the 15th, Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare released the latest list of imported food products found to violate regulations during border inspections. Food imports from multiple countries were found non-compliant. Indian asafoetida seasoning powder was found to contain Sudan Red No. 4, a banned coloring agent, leading to the complete destruction of 500 kg of the product. In addition, pesticide residues were detected in fresh fruits and vegetables: fresh durians imported from Vietnam tested positive for the pesticide chlorfenapyr, and fresh white radishes from mainland China were found to exceed the legal limit for carbendazim. Authorities have ordered all non-compliant fresh produce to be either returned or destroyed and have initiated a one-year enhanced surveillance program for seasoning products from the same origin countries to prevent contaminated food from entering the domestic market.

Spice Powder Found with Illegal Dye? Authorities Order Full Destruction of 500 kg Shipment

Regarding this spice violation, Liu Fang-Ming, Director of the Northern Regional Office of the Food and Drug Administration, clearly stated that the Indian seasoning powder imported by Tiansong Enterprise Co. was found to contain Sudan Red No. 4. According to the 'Food Safety and Sanitation Management Act,' this substance is prohibited for use in food. The affected products must be destroyed at the border and cannot be returned. Given the potential health risks associated with this ingredient, the government maintains a zero-tolerance policy, legally prohibiting return options and mandating immediate destruction at the border to ensure the safety of the domestic food market.

To prevent similar risks in other seasoning products from the same origin, regulatory authorities reviewed long-term statistical data for risk assessment. Liu explained that from March 7 to September 7 of this year, the FDA processed 34 batches of other seasoning sauces imported from India, with one batch failing inspection—an不合格 rate of 2.9%, primarily due to Sudan Red dye contamination. As a result, starting September 8, 2026, and lasting until September 7, 2027, all other seasoning sauces from India will undergo mandatory surveillance inspections at the border, requiring 100% testing for Sudan Red dye before entry is permitted. This elevated inspection standard will remain in place for one full year.

Pesticide超标 in Fresh Produce? Vietnamese Durians and Chinese White Radishes Intercepted at Border

In addition to the spice powder containing banned dyes, pesticide residues in fresh agricultural products were also found to be in violation. According to official reports, on August 21, 2026, Evergreen Trading Co. imported fresh durians from Vietnam weighing a total of 13,990 kg. Laboratory tests using multi-residue analysis detected chlorfenapyr at 0.03 ppm. According to Taiwan's current 'Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides,' chlorfenapyr is a prohibited substance in large berries, with levels required to be below the limit of quantification (0.01 ppm). As this shipment of over ten tons violated regulations, it was ordered to be either returned or destroyed.

Another agricultural violation originated from mainland China. On August 25, 2026, Rihao Agricultural Products Co. imported fresh white radishes weighing 26,600 kg. The batch was found to contain carbendazim at 0.30 ppm, exceeding the legal limit of 0.25 ppm for root and stem vegetables. A total of 26.6 metric tons of white radishes were blocked from entering Taiwan, and the importer was required to return or destroy the entire shipment to uphold import standards for agricultural products.

Food Containers Fail Inspection? Imported Tableware Subject to 50% Sampling Rate

Border inspection measures cover not only raw food ingredients but also food contact materials. In this announcement, oil-absorbing plates imported by Heshimeng Food Enterprise (Hong Kong) Taipei Branch from Malaysia were found non-compliant after laboratory leaching tests. The 185.7 kg shipment has been fully designated for return or destruction by border authorities.

For follow-up actions against the violating importer, the FDA has initiated border control measures under the law, increasing the sampling inspection rate for future imports from this specific company to between 20% and 50%. For Malaysian products under the same classification code, authorities assessed that only one non-compliant batch was recorded in the past six months. Therefore, general sampling inspection procedures remain in place to balance customs efficiency with consumer product safety.