Japanese squid blocked at border for excessive heavy metal levels: TFDA

Taipei, March 25 (CNA) A batch of squid imported from Hokkaido, Japan, has been intercepted at the border after testing positive for excessive levels of cadmium, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) said Tuesday.

The squid contained 2 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of cadmium, surpassing the legal limit of 1 mg/kg for cephalopods under Taiwan's food safety regulations, the TFDA said in its weekly briefing.

The affected batch, imported by Gogo Foods Taiwan Co., weighed 290 grams and was either returned or destroyed before reaching the market, the agency added.

As a result of the violation, the company, which had imported three shipments of squid in the past six months, will now face stricter inspection measures, TFDA officials said.

However, random inspections will remain in place for other squid importers, as data from the past six months show that only two out of 243 batches from the same origin and product category failed inspection, officials noted.

Aside from the squid, the TFDA's latest border inspection report identified several other noncompliant food products, including asparagus from Vietnam and mixed spices from Malaysia, both of which were found to contain excessive pesticide residues.

All affected shipments have been either rejected at the border or destroyed, the agency said.