New Taipei Slaps NT$2-M Fine On Importer Of Tainted Chinese Chili Powder

A New Taipei-based company, which imported chili powder from China later found to contain a carcinogenic dye banned for use with foodstuffs in Taiwan, will be fined NT$2 million (US$63,335) for failure to inform downstream companies to initiate a product recall, reported Wang Hung-kuo and Evelyn Kao for Central News Agency (CNA).

Despite being informed that its imported chili powder was substandard by some of the downstream companies it supplied, Bao Hsin did not immediately notify other downstream distributors to initiate a product recall. I Photo: Miaoli County Health Department

Investigators discovered that Bao Hsin Enterprises Co., a food raw material dealer, imported chili powder containing Sudan III, an industrial dye prohibited for food processing in Taiwan, from China and supplied it to downstream food companies across the nation.

Despite being informed that its imported chili powder was substandard by some of the downstream companies it supplied, Bao Hsin did not immediately notify other downstream distributors to initiate a product recall, stated the New Taipei Department of Health following an investigation.

The company not only affected its own reputation but also implicated other brands, the department said. It added that had Bao Hsin not ignored warnings from downstream companies, the incident could have been prevented in advance.

Additionally, the company neglected its responsibilities as a food business operator. In response, the city government decided to impose a fine on the company for violating the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

WEEKLY FEATURE : Jose Mari Chan And The Christmas Anthem