Rumors of Inferior Chinese Stainless Steel Tableware Entering Market; FDA Launches Investigation
Following rumors of inferior Chinese industrial stainless steel tableware entering the Taiwanese market, Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched market investigations and sampling inspections. All stainless steel products tested in the past three years met standards, and experts advise consumers not to panic excessively.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 21:51
- 🔍 Collected: May 12, 2026 at 22:02 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 13, 2026 at 08:08 (10h 6m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Taipei 12th comprehensive report) Following rumors that inferior Chinese industrial stainless steel tableware has flowed into the Taiwanese market, the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today stated that it has launched market investigations and sampling inspections. In specialized inspections of food containers over the past three years, all stainless steel products met regulations, and toxicology experts also urged consumers not to panic prematurely.
Media reported that a cross-strait marriage influencer revealed that she had imported a large quantity of Chinese industrial stainless steel tableware into Taiwan, relying on price cutting to seize the market. Night markets and traditional market vendors loved to wholesale them, making them into eco-friendly tableware.
Taiwan's FDA today told a Central News Agency reporter that, upon investigation, the influencer's Facebook account showed her location in Taichung City, and market investigations and sampling inspections were immediately launched.
The FDA stated that from 2021 to 2023, a total of 97 metal alloy food containers were sampled in specialized projects, of which 27 were stainless steel. All test results met hygiene standards. The public is reminded to choose products from reputable brands or those made in Taiwan with clear labeling, such as the common 304 and 316 materials.
Yan Zonghai, a professor-level attending physician in the Nephrology Department of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and a toxicology expert, explained in an interview with Central News Agency that for household stainless steel tableware, pots, and kettles, it is recommended to choose "300 series" because they contain different proportions of chromium and nickel elements, which have a more stable chemical structure, are more corrosion-resistant, and less prone to rust. The common "200 series" uses manganese elements instead of more expensive nickel, which has a less stable chemical structure and poorer corrosion and rust prevention effects.
Regarding whether the use of manganese-containing stainless steel can cause manganese poisoning, Yan Zonghai explained that most patients with manganese poisoning seen clinically are factory workers who have long-term, unprotected, and extensive exposure, which leads to neurodegenerative diseases similar to Parkinson's disease. As for the use of manganese-containing tableware, it should not cause heavy metal poisoning, but it is still recommended to use 300 series stainless steel for better quality.
Central News Agency reporters inquired with night market grocery vendors. One clerk said that consumers first look at the origin, with Taiwanese-made products being preferred. Mr. Huang, the owner of a traditional market daily necessities store, said that when purchasing goods, he chooses products manufactured by large factories and clearly labeled as stainless steel 304 or 316. Consumers have been paying more attention to whether products are domestically produced in the past one or two years.
Taipei City Government Department of Commerce responded in writing that it has received similar complaints and will check product labeling. Since testing is required, it will assist in forwarding the case to the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection of the Ministry of Economic Affairs for verification. If containers used by market vendors do not comply with food safety regulations, they can be ordered to rectify within a time limit according to the Taipei City Retail Market Management Autonomy Ordinance, and the case will be handed over to the Department of Health for legal penalties. New Taipei City Government Department of Health and Market Department stated that they will fully cooperate with food safety inspections.
Taichung City Government Food and Drug Safety Office stated that it usually adopts a dual mechanism of "annual special projects" and "irregular sampling inspections" to inspect and sample department stores, supermarkets, and traditional markets. From 2021 to the end of March this year, a total of 149 food containers were inspected, all of which met regulations, and sampling inspections are continuously being expanded.
Kaohsiung City Department of Health responded that from 2021 to the end of April 2026, a total of 229 food containers were sampled, of which only one baking pan in 2024 did not meet regulations. In response to recent related incidents, market sampling and monitoring of food containers are continuing.
Taiwan's FDA stated that stainless steel food container labeling should comply with the "Commodity Labeling Act" of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. If operators violate the regulations and fail to rectify within the time limit, they can be fined NT$20,000 to NT$200,000. (Edited by Hsieh Yachu, Chen Qingfang) 1150512
(Central News Agency, Taipei 12th comprehensive report) Following rumors that inferior Chinese industrial stainless steel tableware has flowed into the Taiwanese market, the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today stated that it has launched market investigations and sampling inspections. In specialized inspections of food containers over the past three years, all stainless steel products met regulations, and toxicology experts also urged consumers not to panic prematurely.
Media reported that a cross-strait marriage influencer revealed that she had imported a large quantity of Chinese industrial stainless steel tableware into Taiwan, relying on price cutting to seize the market. Night markets and traditional market vendors loved to wholesale them, making them into eco-friendly tableware.
Taiwan's FDA today told a Central News Agency reporter that, upon investigation, the influencer's Facebook account showed her location in Taichung City, and market investigations and sampling inspections were immediately launched.
The FDA stated that from 2021 to 2023, a total of 97 metal alloy food containers were sampled in specialized projects, of which 27 were stainless steel. All test results met hygiene standards. The public is reminded to choose products from reputable brands or those made in Taiwan with clear labeling, such as the common 304 and 316 materials.
Yan Zonghai, a professor-level attending physician in the Nephrology Department of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and a toxicology expert, explained in an interview with Central News Agency that for household stainless steel tableware, pots, and kettles, it is recommended to choose "300 series" because they contain different proportions of chromium and nickel elements, which have a more stable chemical structure, are more corrosion-resistant, and less prone to rust. The common "200 series" uses manganese elements instead of more expensive nickel, which has a less stable chemical structure and poorer corrosion and rust prevention effects.
Regarding whether the use of manganese-containing stainless steel can cause manganese poisoning, Yan Zonghai explained that most patients with manganese poisoning seen clinically are factory workers who have long-term, unprotected, and extensive exposure, which leads to neurodegenerative diseases similar to Parkinson's disease. As for the use of manganese-containing tableware, it should not cause heavy metal poisoning, but it is still recommended to use 300 series stainless steel for better quality.
Central News Agency reporters inquired with night market grocery vendors. One clerk said that consumers first look at the origin, with Taiwanese-made products being preferred. Mr. Huang, the owner of a traditional market daily necessities store, said that when purchasing goods, he chooses products manufactured by large factories and clearly labeled as stainless steel 304 or 316. Consumers have been paying more attention to whether products are domestically produced in the past one or two years.
Taipei City Government Department of Commerce responded in writing that it has received similar complaints and will check product labeling. Since testing is required, it will assist in forwarding the case to the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection of the Ministry of Economic Affairs for verification. If containers used by market vendors do not comply with food safety regulations, they can be ordered to rectify within a time limit according to the Taipei City Retail Market Management Autonomy Ordinance, and the case will be handed over to the Department of Health for legal penalties. New Taipei City Government Department of Health and Market Department stated that they will fully cooperate with food safety inspections.
Taichung City Government Food and Drug Safety Office stated that it usually adopts a dual mechanism of "annual special projects" and "irregular sampling inspections" to inspect and sample department stores, supermarkets, and traditional markets. From 2021 to the end of March this year, a total of 149 food containers were inspected, all of which met regulations, and sampling inspections are continuously being expanded.
Kaohsiung City Department of Health responded that from 2021 to the end of April 2026, a total of 229 food containers were sampled, of which only one baking pan in 2024 did not meet regulations. In response to recent related incidents, market sampling and monitoring of food containers are continuing.
Taiwan's FDA stated that stainless steel food container labeling should comply with the "Commodity Labeling Act" of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. If operators violate the regulations and fail to rectify within the time limit, they can be fined NT$20,000 to NT$200,000. (Edited by Hsieh Yachu, Chen Qingfang) 1150512