Mustard Manufactured in France Hindered Due to Preservatives
Excessive Preservatives Found in Imported Foods in Taiwan
In recent developments, several batches of imported food products have been found to contain excessive levels of certain preservatives. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Taiwan has taken action to ensure the safety of consumers, returning or destroying the affected products in accordance with regulations.
Two batches of durians, totaling more than 30 tonnes, were found to contain excessive levels of pesticides or banned insecticides, including azoxystrobin, prochloraz, acephate, and methamidophos. These durians, imported by two different companies, will be returned to their country of origin or destroyed.
Similarly, a batch of mustard supplied by Charbonneaux-Brabant was prevented from entry due to preservatives exceeding legal limits. The FDA stated that the 48kg of mustard contained 0.079g/kg of sulphur dioxide, which is more than the legal limit of 0.03g/kg. The mustard will be destroyed, and the importer, Gourmet's Partner Ltd based in Taipei, will face an increased inspection rate of 20 to 50 percent at the border.
Between Feb. 4 and Monday last week, Taiwan imported 36 batches of mustard from France, five of which failed safety inspections. This incident has led to stricter border inspections for imports from France, particularly for mustard products.
Dried green mung beans from Thailand and fresh durians from Vietnam also failed border inspections due to excessive sulphur dioxide. Given the common usage patterns, it is likely that excessive sulfites and sodium benzoate residues were detected in these imported products.
Sulphur dioxide is a common preservative used in various food products to prevent browning, microbial growth, and spoilage. Mustard products can contain preservatives like sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate to inhibit microbial growth, while durians and green mung beans (often imported dried or frozen) might have sulfites used for the same purposes.
Taiwan’s food safety reports often highlight sulfites and benzoates when discussing excessive use in imported food products. This aligns with usual preservative types monitored for import safety related to these foods.
Common preservatives used in food products include sulfites, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, parabens, and antioxidants like BHA and BHT. While specific preservatives for each product were not detailed in the search results, it is likely that these are the preservatives found in excess in the imported mustard, durians, and green mung beans in Taiwan.
Due to repeated safety issues with Vietnamese durians, all such imports from Vietnam have been subject to 100 percent border inspections since July 22. The FDA Northern Center for Regional Administration Deputy Director is Tsai Chia-fen.
In summary, the common preservatives widely found in food are sulfites, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and parabens. In imported mustard, durians, and green mung beans in Taiwan, excessive sulfites and benzoates are the most likely culprits based on typical preservation practices and food types. More precise information on which specific preservatives exceeded limits in Taiwan would require Taiwan’s official food safety or import monitoring reports.
- The excessive levels of preservatives found in imported foods in Taiwan, such as sulfites, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate, could be detrimental to one's health-and-wellness, as they are commonly used in food-and-drink to prolong shelf life and prevent spoilage.
- In light of these findings, adopting therapies-and-treatments that focus on organic, preservative-free foods may become a crucial component of one's lifestyle to maintain optimal health and wellness.
