Malaysia Palm Oil Exceeds Contaminant Limits, 20 Tons Rejected and Destroyed at Border

Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration has blocked a shipment of Malaysian palm oil after tests found excessive levels of a contaminant formed during processing.

The shipment, imported by Qifu Food, contained 1,561 micrograms of glycidyl fatty acid esters per kilogram, above the permitted limit of 1,000 micrograms. The full 20,140-kilogram shipment must be returned or destroyed at the border.

The agency said it has strengthened border inspections of imported edible oils through December 31 following recent cases involving excessive benzo[a]pyrene. It will now inspect every shipment of products from the same origin and tariff classification imported by the company.

Authorities also ordered 1,109 kilograms of Malaysian-style shrimp paste imported from Hong Kong by Cheng Ying Co. to be destroyed. Tests detected Sudan I, a substance prohibited for use in food. The agency said 87 shipments of other sauces from Hong Kong were inspected between February 24 and August 24, with this being the only failed shipment. Those products will undergo 100% testing for Sudan dyes from August 19 this year through August 18 next year.

A separate shipment of Japanese seaweed contained 1.7 milligrams of inorganic arsenic per kilogram, exceeding the 1.0-milligram limit for algae. The three-kilogram shipment must be returned or destroyed, and the importer will face inspections covering 20% to 50% of shipments. The agency said four of 50 Japanese seaweed and algae shipments inspected during the period failed, all because of excessive inorganic arsenic.

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Glycidyl fatty acid esters are contaminants and toxins that can easily form during palm oil processing.