Taiwan premier apologizes for Sudan Red dye scandal

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Premier Chen Chien-jen issued a public apology on Friday (March 15) on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the issue involving Sudan Red dye found in chili powder.

Acknowledging government oversights and the necessity to enhance current spot-check procedures, Chen pledged to rectify the problem.

Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Wang Hung-wei questioned if the government has resolved issues regarding the use of Sudan Red, a synthetic dye, in edible products. She sought confirmation that no new products or recipes contained Sudan Red.

In response, Chen assured that efforts to address Sudan Red issues were ongoing. Since discovering the presence of Sudan Red in December 2023, the government has been conducting batch inspections, tracing products back to May 2023. The inspection method has been changed from spot-checking to batch inspections.

Wang criticized Chen, alleging significant gaps in food safety and social security networks during his term of office. She demanded a public apology from him for these shortcomings.

In acknowledgment, Chen admitted to systemic food safety issues but argued that central and local governments must review the entire social safety net mechanism.

In conclusion, Chen reiterated the FDA's apology for the omission, stressing the urgent need to improve sampling inspection methods.

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