2,000 kg of products with artificial sweeteners stopped at Taiwan's border

Taipei, Sept. 19 (CNA) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Tuesday that 2,000 kilograms of imported food items containing sweeteners not permitted for use in certain edible products were stopped at Taiwan's border from Aug. 2-29.

Among them were a 1,400 kg shipment of Yicheng Mixed Macadamia Nut and a 600 kg shipment of Yixiang Mixed Macadamia Nut from China, as well as 555 kg of Indonesian-made cassava chips and 10.8 kg of CJ Bibigo Crispy Seaweed Snacks Hot Chicken Flavor from South Korea, the FDA said.

They were found to contain either saccharin or cyclamate, two artificial sweeteners whose use Taiwan permits only for specific products, including melon seeds, preserved fruits, plum powder and carbonated drinks.

The shipments were either returned or destroyed, according to the FDA.

According to FDA Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu (林金富), the administration will increase random checks on the four products from 2-10 percent of all shipments to 20-50 percent.

Meanwhile, the FDA said that it had stopped 12 other products -- including chili from the United States, chili powder from Spain and fresh coconuts from Thailand -- between Aug. 16 and 29 for a variety of violations, such as prohibited use of pesticides or bleach.