U.S. beef tongues containing parasite seized at Taiwan's border

Taipei, Feb. 11 (CNA) A shipment of beef tongues imported from the United States was intercepted at Taiwan's border after being found to contain a parasite that commonly infects animals, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) reported Tuesday.

In addition, a batch of oysters also imported from the U.S. was seized at the border for containing an excessive amount of the heavy metal cadmium, according to the agency.

The two items were among 40 imported items intercepted at the border in recent weeks for containing excessive or banned pesticides, or failing to meet import requirements, including asparagus from Vietnam and Earl Grey tea from Hong Kong, according to a weekly list of intercepted items published by the agency on Tuesday.

All the intercepted shipments were either returned to their country of origin or destroyed at the border, the agency said.

A shipment of frozen beef tongues weighing 9.66 kilograms imported by Taoyuan-based Ben Harvest Co., was found to be infected with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The product was supplied by an American company Swift Beef Co., according to the agency.

According to the Sanitation Standards for General Foods, no parasites are permitted in general foods.

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

It was the first time in the past six months that a parasite was found in a shipment of beef tongues, TFDA Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu (林金富) told reporters.

All imports of U.S. beef tongues, testicles and hanger tender are inspected batch by batch on arrival since Taiwan relaxed limitations on imports of U.S. beef and beef products in 2009.

Taiwan suspended the import of beef and lamb products from the United States following the discovery of a case of BSE in the country in December 2003.

In addition, a batch of U.S. oysters weighing 477 kg imported by Taipei-based New Fairy Co. was seized at the border for containing 2mg/kg of cadmium, higher than the permitted level of 1mg/kg.

As the importer has a record of violating import regulations, the sampling rate for its imports was raised to 20-50 percent following the earlier infraction. With the latest violations, the TFDA will put the company's imports under batch by batch inspections, according to Lin.