Page 84 - Taiwan Food and Drug Administration 2016 Annual Report

Taiwan Food and Drug Adminstration

(Items tested) (Identi?cation)
2500 120.0%
100.0% 2,134
100.0%
2000 86.1% 82.0%
1,428 80.0%
1500
66.9.0% 60.0%
1000
40.0%
38.5% 395
500 324 20.0%
1 1 13 5 36 31 0%
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Items tested Number of items found to contain nicotine Identi?cation

Figure 2-7-2 An illustration of the electronic cigarette and percentage of specimen containing nicotine

(3) In response to the suspected formaldehyde contamination of Sindine Alcoholic Solution
(Povidone-Iodine), TFDA worked with the responsible local health bureaus and departments
to sample four specimens of Alcohol 95% at the original manufacturer on December 8, 2015.
Testing was conducted according to the specifications of the original manufacturer and
th
38 version of the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP 38). One of the specimens failed to
comply with the speci?cations of the original manufacturer on aldehydes and other organic
contaminants. Testing for organic impurities provided in the impurities section of alcohol
products in USP 38 published in 2015 also identi?ed acetaldehyde. However, formaldehyde
was not found. TFDA then sent an official request to the manufacturer to revise its internal
SOPs for nonconforming product testing and testing exemptions for raw materials, and to
submit investigation reports.
(4) TFDA developed molecular biological species identification techniques to safeguard food
sanitation and safety for the general public.
a. TFDA received a report from Taitung County Public Health Bureau on March 18, 2015 of sore
throat, fever, exhaustion, dizziness, amentia, delusion, and diplopia and other symptoms
amongst members of the public who had consumed A Bai (rice dumplings) prepared by
themselves. The cases were suspected to have been caused by ingesting poisoned plants.
Fortunately, the symptoms subsided after emergency medical aid. After DNA analysis for
identifying the species of plant, it was found that the leaves contained Angel's trumpet plant
(Brugmansia spp.) and it was veri?ed that the victims had mistaken the leaves of the poisonous
plant (Figure 2-7-3) for the edible jiasuanjiang (Nicandra physaloides).

82 Figure 2-7-3 Leaves of the poisonous Angel's trumpet plant (Brugmansia spp.)