(Central News Agency, reporter Yang Shumin, Taipei, June 8) As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, the Taipei City Department of Health today announced the results of an inspection of 85 commercially available products, including zongzi (rice dumplings), fillings, and fresh meat. One batch of peanut powder was found to contain total aflatoxin and aflatoxin B1 exceeding legal limits, and has been removed from shelves.

The Department of Health held a routine press conference to announce that it had recently conducted inspections at food stores, zongzi specialty shops, convenience stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets, and traditional markets where zongzi are made and sold. A total of 85 items were tested, including 40 zongzi fillings, 25 zongzi, 10 fresh livestock products, 5 condiments, and 5 peanut powder samples.

The Department stated that the inspection covered 12 items, including preservatives, boric acid and its salts, bleaching agents, fungicides, pesticide residues, Sudan dyes, beta-agonists (veterinary drugs), and aflatoxins. One sample was found to have total aflatoxin and aflatoxin B1 levels exceeding the limits set by the "Sanitation Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food." The business has been ordered to remove the product from shelves.

The Department explained that aflatoxin is a major carcinogen that can induce liver cancer. It requires extremely high temperatures of 237 to 306 degrees Celsius to be broken down. Taiwan's hot and humid climate makes it easy for mold to grow if food is not stored properly, leading to mycotoxin contamination. Consumers are advised to purchase from reputable manufacturers.

The Department added that the substandard product originated from another county/city. The case has been referred to the relevant local health department for handling in accordance with the law. The manufacturer may be ordered to make corrections within a specified period. If corrections are not made by the deadline, the manufacturer could face a fine of between NT$30,000 and NT$3 million under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation. (Editor: Guan Zhongwei) June 8, 2026

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  • Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
  • Category: Survey