Drink chains among businesses fined NT$1.05M for food safety violations

Taipei, Sept. 17 (CNA) Several Taiwanese beverage chains, including PeakTea and Hachiyo Tea, were among businesses fined for food safety violations in recent government inspections, authorities said Thursday.

The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) said the inspections resulted in fines totaling NT$1.05 million (US$32,900).

The inspections, conducted jointly with local health authorities, were aimed at ensuring that freshly prepared beverages and ice products met hygiene and safety standards, said Wei Jen-ting (魏任廷), head of the TFDA's Southern Center.

Authorities inspected 387 vendors and tested 448 samples. Of those, 442 passed, including 33 that passed after retesting, while six beverage or ice products were found to be noncompliant with regulations, Wei said.

Inspectors also found that 17 businesses, including chain beverage stores, convenience stores and fast-food operators, had inaccurate labels for total sugar, calorie or caffeine content.

Among the violators was a PeakTea (青山) branch in Taipei's Zhongzheng District, where Enterobacteriaceae levels were found to be 1,400 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml) -- 140 times the permitted limit of 10 CFU/ml.

The branch was fined NT$30,000 for violating food safety regulations.

A Hachiyo Tea (八曜和茶) branch in Douliu, Yunlin County, was fined NT$40,000 after its "Awakening Black Tea" product was found to have a caffeine level that did not match the figure stated on its label.

A Master of Tea (花茶大師英式紅茶莊園) branch in Tainan's West Central District received the largest fine, NT$130,000, after inspectors found three violations: failure to obtain product liability insurance, use of expired food ingredients and inaccurate caffeine labeling.

The TFDA said other violations uncovered during the inspections included failure to correct deficiencies identified under the Good Hygienic Practice regulations, lack of product liability insurance, use of expired ingredients and improper product labeling.