TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Minister of Health and Welfare, Hsueh Jui-yuan, addressed the ongoing issue of Sudan III contamination in chili powder on Thursday (March 7), stating that it was an unusual food safety concern requiring a careful and time-consuming response.
Hsueh ruled out a blanket ban on imported chili powder over fears of sparking a shortage, as it is a critical ingredient vital to cuisines loved by locals, and the domestic demand far surpasses the available domestic supply.
Instead, he confirmed that all failed imports detected at borders would be destroyed or returned. At the same time, passing goods would be allowed into the domestic market.
Given the broad applicability of chili powder, Hsueh added, the number of inspected batches would likewise increase, resulting in a rise in seized or sealed quantities of food.
As for school lunches, the minister said he respected local governments' decisions to stop using chili powder in meals, as children rarely consume it.
New Taipei City's Education Department was the first to suspend the use of chili powder and curry powder in school lunches. Cities and counties, including Keelung, Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Taichung, Changhua, and Taitung, have followed suit, temporarily halting the use of chili and curry powders in their school meals.
