Prohibited Preservative Found in Taiwan Noodles; Authorities Inspect Markets

An inspection of fresh noodles in traditional markets across southern Taiwan has revealed the presence of benzoic acid, a preservative that is legally prohibited in such products. The Taiwan Consumer Protection Association (TCPA) tested 25 samples of fresh noodles, with three batches found to contain the illegal additive. The Kaohsiung City Department of Health was alerted and promptly initiated an inspection of the implicated vendors and manufacturers.

The TCPA simulated consumer purchasing behavior, sending samples for SGS testing on the same day. The results, released today, indicated that the three positive samples were found in markets in Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung. The health department has requested the full inspection report, testing methods, and sampling data from the TCPA to facilitate a comparison of product sources, manufacturing batches, and sales channels.

The Kaohsiung health department stated that it regularly monitors noodle products. Between January and July of this year, 185 batches were inspected, covering factories, noodle production sites, noodle stalls, and market vendors. In previous years, instances of benzoic acid being detected in products like dumpling wrappers and ramen have led to legal penalties for manufacturers.

Beyond factory inspections, the health department is expanding its checks to traditional markets and wet noodle manufacturers. These checks include verifying the sources of food additives, usage records, production hygiene, and storage and sales practices. Violators face fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$3 million under the "Food Safety and Sanitation Act." The department noted that one vendor with a history of violations has undergone 13 unannounced inspections since 2016, with several products found to be non-compliant in past years, resulting in fines. However, recent inspections of this vendor have been compliant. The department has again dispatched personnel to investigate this vendor as a priority, focusing on additive sources, production records, and product distribution.