2015 Taiwan Food and Drug Administration

66 / 132

Food and Drug Administration 66
b. Background value surveys for risk factors in food and total diet study risk assessments
(a) Investigation and risk assessments of dioxin levels in food
In 2014, the risk assessment was performed for dietary dioxin levels of residents in the Southern
Taiwan. Content surveys and exposure risk assessments were performed for 17 types of
polychlorinated dibenzodioxins / dibenzofurans (PCDDs / PCDFs) and 12 types of dioxin-like
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to estimate life-time average daily doses (LADD). Results indicate
that LADD of residents in Southern Taiwan are lower than both the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of
World Health Organization (WHO) and the tolerable weekly intake (TWI) of Scientific Committee on
Food (SCF) of Europe.
(b) Total Diet Study
A total diet study (TDS) was carried out to ensure food safety of fellow citizens and established
a basic food sample database. Supporting samples of special hazardous substances targeted
in the year were also procured and tested for the risk assessment. For 2014, TFDA continued
to build and expand Taiwan's TDS food sample database for pesticide residue established in
the previous year (2013), expanding the database to include 250 representative food products
and testing data for 252 types of pesticide residues to improve the comprehensiveness of TDS
and risk assessments for residual pesticides. Risks for each type of pesticide were estimated
according to the dietary intake of the 250 representative foods among three demographic
groups, with estimated results indicating that the risks are acceptable.
c. Unintended Reaction Reporting for Food Products
In 2008, TFDA has established the National Reporting System for Unintended Reactions of Health
Food and Food in Capsule or Tablet Formsto collect post-market safety information from the
general public on any unintended reactions. TFDA consultation committee assessed the cases
reported and product safety to carry out relevant measures at once to minimize potential hazards
and contain the scope of impact. From 2008 to 2014, a total of 150 cases of unintended reactions
were reported for health food and food in capsule or tablet forms. A total of 1,134 food safety
information were also monitored accordingly.
d. Monitoring International Food Safety Alerts
Dedicated TFDA personnel monitored food recall alerts from around the world on a daily basis and
disseminated relevant information to prevent imports of recalled foods infected with potential risk.
In 2014, a total of 267 food consumer Red and Green Lights alerts were published on the Food
and Drug Consumer Knowledge Services Network ).
(2) Risk Assessment Mechanism and Control
a. Food Product Risk Factor Analysis
In 2014, food risk factor analyses for a total of 3,518 samples were completed, including background
surveys for hazardous substances in food, sanitation standards for commercially available food
products, and compliance surveys for product labels. Information on the Food and Drug Consumer
Knowledge Services Networkhas been transferred and linked with the Health Risk Assessment
Database for Food Safety. From 2009 to 2014, a total of 890 risk assessment data was recorded, of
which 50 and 100 risk assessment items were added and updated in 2014.