Imported dried squid, red peppers fail safety border inspections

Taipei, Aug. 19 (CNA) Shipments of dried squid purchased by Muji and crushed red peppers imported by Costco were recently blocked at the border after being found to contain excessive additive and pesticide residues, according to the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) on Tuesday.

A total of 6.6 kilograms of dried squid imported from Japan was found to contain 20 g/kg of phosphate, exceeding the legal limit of 3 g/kg, according to Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the TFDA's Northern Center for Regional Administration.

Phosphate is often used as a food additive in processed and pre-packed foods to improve shelf life, stability and texture.

The dried squid will be returned or destroyed in accordance with regulations, Cheng added.

Meanwhile, 305.64 kg of "Kirkland Signature" brand crushed red peppers imported from India was found to contain 0.6 parts per million (ppm) of fluopyram, a type of pesticide commonly used to control fungal diseases such as gray mold.

The amount of fluopyram exceeded the legal limit of 0.4 ppm, Cheng said, adding that the batch will also be returned or destroyed in accordance with regulations.

Both Muji and Costco face an increased inspection rate of 20-50 percent at the border for dried squid and crushed red peppers, respectively, up from routine random checks of 2-10 percent, Cheng said.

On Tuesday, the TFDA also announced 14 other products that recently failed safety inspections, including fresh melons from Japan and two batches of black peppers from Vietnam, which were found to contain Sudan 4, a banned toxic dye, and excessive pesticide residues.

Between Feb. 11 and Aug. 11 this year, a total of 52 batches of black peppers from Vietnam were inspected, of which five failed, representing a failure rate of 9.6 percent, Cheng said, noting that the issues all related to the detection of Sudan dyes and pesticide residues.

According to Cheng, the TFDA has since April imposed a 100 percent safety inspection on all imported Vietnamese black peppers.