TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Cinnamon powder imported by Starbucks' parent company, Korean white chocolate cookie sticks, and Japanese curry powder failed to meet safety standards after border inspections, and will be returned or destroyed, Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA, 食藥署) announced on Tuesday (Dec. 17).
Uni-Wonder Corporation (悠旅生活事業股份有限公司), Starbucks' domestic affiliate, imported cinnamon powder from the U.S. that tested positive for the carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide. The detected levels of 3.5 mg/kg and 2.7 mg/kg surpass the permissible pesticide residue limits, leading to the requirement for 32.66 kilograms of cinnamon powder to be returned or destroyed at the border.
LOTTE Taiwan Co., Ltd. (台灣樂天製菓股份有限公司) imported Korean "LOTTE PEPERO" white chocolate cookie sticks that contained azo dyes, an additive not approved in Taiwan. Consequently, officials mandated that this batch of cookie sticks be returned or destroyed at the border.
Tai Crown Corp. (太冠國際開發事業有限公司) faced similar issues with its imported Japanese "S&B" curry powder, which tested for phosphine pesticide at 0.012 ppm, exceeding the permissible pesticide residue limits. As a result, the 120 kilograms of curry powder must be returned or destroyed.
