Taiwan halts chili powder imports amid carcinogen scare

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday (Feb. 20) night issued a statement suspending the importation of chili powder from 21 Chinese exporters and manufacturers for three months following health concerns.

The statement comes after the New Taipei City Department of Health was informed on Feb. 7 by Yunlin County Public Health Bureau that the chili powder had tested positive for Sudan III -- an industrial dye identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a possibly carcinogenic substance -- which is banned from foodstuffs. The popular snack “Hsia Wei Hsien,” in spicy flavor, was also contaminated.

Sudan III, an aromatic compound, has demonstrated hepatorenal toxicity, causing WHO to list it as a third-category unclassifiable carcinogen. Following conducting 100% batch inspections on chili powder imported from China from Dec. 11, 2023, to June 10, 2024, the FDA stated that violations were severe.

To verify the recovery of related products, government agencies have solicited help from the health departments governed by seven downstream operators. As of Feb. 19, 1,056.988 kilos have collectively been retrieved.

The FDA warned that adding Sudan III to food violates the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation and could result in imprisonment of not more than seven years and a fine of up to NT＄80 million.

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