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Food and Drug Administration
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(5) Adulteration of Commercially Available Pork with Beef and Mutton
a. The Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office found meat companies adding mutton suet to pork or
cheap minced beef, and even added water in order to sell these adulterated meat as mutton to hot
pot restaurants, stir fry restaurants, and night market vendors to gain illicit profits.
b. Health bureaus from both New Taipei City and Kaohsiung City conducted joint investigations and acquired
a total of 46 samples of beef and mutton products from upstream and downstream producers. TFDA
then employed specific test for bovine, ovine, and swine ingredients. Results indicated that six beef and
mutton products contained swine ingredients, and evidenced that these products contain pork-derived
adulterants. TFDA proclaimed specific test for bovine, ovine, and swine ingredients were effective in
determining the authenticity of marketed meat products, safeguarding dietary rights and interests of the
public and assisting investigations of District Prosecutors Office.
(6) Food Poisoning Outbreak from Accidental Consumption of Gupoyu (night-scented lily,
Alocasia odora
)
a. Accidental consumption of poisonous plants shaped like the taro led to a food poisoning incident with
symptoms that included oral paralysis and throat pain after ingesting the poison.
b. Leftover of the suspected sample
yam rice
could no longer be used to discern the identity of the food
ingredients. Molecular biology testing techniques were thus employed by TFDA to identify the plant
species present in the sample and evidenced the etilogy of the poisonous plant
Alocasia odora.
c. TFDA has developed and employs rapid species identification methods to effectively support and
clarify the causes for food poisoning. Press releases were also published to remind the public and
prevent accidental consumption of poisonous plants.
(7) High Aloin Contents of L'amour Health Food Capsules
a. As a result of concerns and feedback from consumers on the product, the Taipei Investigation Office of
the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) sending the encapsulated products to TFDA in early
July 2014, to determine the safety of the aloin.
b. Aloin contents were tested for the aloe vera plant (aloe vera gel, aloe vera skin, and total leaf),
semi-finished aloe extracts from L'amour, and capsule products sold on the market that contain
aloe extracts (freeze-dried powder for aloe juice). Results were then submitted to the relevant
administrative agency for handling.
(8) News on Formaldehyde Contents in Electronic Cigarettes
a. In November 2014, the media reported formaldehyde and acetaldehyde contents in the vapors of
electronic cigarettes. Carcinogen levels of these vapors would be several times higher than ordinary
cigarettes.