FDA halts imported Filipino banana sauce at the border.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Taiwan has announced stricter border inspections on all seasoning sauces imported from the Philippines and durians imported from Vietnam, following the discovery of contaminated batches of banana sauce and durians.
Yesterday, the FDA made the announcement, revealing that three batches of fresh durians imported from Vietnam were found to contain excessive pesticide residues. Similarly, three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border and found to contain the banned industrial dye, Orange G.
Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally. The contaminated banana sauce batches, totaling 2,400kg, are to be returned or destroyed under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.
Cheng Wei-chih, the head of the FDA's Northern Center for Regional Administration, stated that under the strictest border inspection, 100% testing for illegal dyes is required before entry is allowed. This means that all seasoning sauces from the Philippines will be subject to the FDA's strictest border inspection from today through Sept. 2, 2023.
In addition, the European Commission conducts 100% inspections of durian imports from Vietnam until October 1st to prevent the introduction of pests and ensure compliance with EU phytosanitary regulations.
The FDA has reported other noncompliant imports over the past week, including mulberry tea powder from China and mustard from the US, due to pesticide or additive violations.
The strict border inspection measures come as a response to the 1.8% failure rate in the past six months, where out of 164 batches of seasoning sauces from the Philippines, 3 failed due to Orange G.
Photographs courtesy of the Food and Drug Administration were provided to illustrate this news.
The FDA has imposed 100% inspection on Vietnamese durians until Oct. 1, in an effort to maintain food safety and sanitation standards in Taiwan. The public is advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious food products to the FDA.
