Mayoral candidate slams city government over formaldehyde in rice noodles

A Taiwanese mayoral candidate has sharply criticized the Hsinchu city government's handling of a food safety scandal involving "Nong Geng Pai" brand rice noodles, which have repeatedly tested positive for formaldehyde.

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formaldehyde should be 'zero-detected' by law

Chuang Ching-cheng, a candidate for Hsinchu mayor, stated that the city government under Mayor Kao Hung-an has shown significant deficiencies in food safety management, recall processes, and information transparency. He argued that the repeated detection of formaldehyde in the rice noodles, which should be "zero-detected" by law, indicates major flaws in the city's oversight. This mishandling, he contends, has created a crisis of trust for the entire Hsinchu rice noodle industry, unfairly impacting businesses that adhere to regulations.

Chuang pointed out that the city government was notified of the issue by the Tainan city government on May 27 and conducted its own inspections and tests in early June. He questioned why a comprehensive recall and public announcement of the problematic products, including specific batches and distribution channels, were not immediately implemented. Instead, he said, it took the city government 69 days, until August 4, to inform the public that formaldehyde was still being detected in the noodles, without specifying the source.

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The city government has significant loopholes in food safety management, recall, and information disclosure.

"Where is the recall and risk control that was promised?" Chuang demanded. He called for the city government to release a complete list of affected products, including batch numbers, manufacturing dates, sales channels, and the quantities recalled or still in circulation. He also criticized previous remarks by a city health official, who allegedly downplayed the risks of formaldehyde, further raising concerns about the city's approach to food safety.

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Where is the recall and risk control that was promised?