11 Out of 101 Produce Samples Don't Meet Standards 中秋將屆 北市抽驗各式食材不合格率11%

The Taipei City Department of Health is conducting food inspections ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Of 101 produce samples tested, 11 were found to contain excessive levels of pesticide residue.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the Taipei City Department of Health is conducting spot inspections at bakeries, ingredient manufacturers, traditional markets, supermarkets, big box stores, eateries, and beverage stores. Of the 101 samples tested, 11 were found to contain excessive pesticide residue levels. The 11 products included bell peppers, imported daikons, passion fruit, celery, bok choy, and lemons. 

Chen Yi-ting, Director, Food and Drug Division, Department of Health, Taipei City: “Eleven of the samples were found to contain excessive pesticide residue. They were all grown outside of Taipei and we have asked the municipal health bureaus in the places of origin to investigate.”

The department also tested 13 soy sauce products, including six fermented and seven unfermented, being sold at traditional markets, grocery stores, and Southeast Asian grocery stores. One soy sauce labeled as "Grade A" was found to not meet Grade A standards.

Chen Yi-ting, Director, Food and Drug Division, Department of Health, Taipei City: “Grade A soy sauce should contain a nitrogen level of at least 1.4 grams per 100 milliliters. We found (a nitrogen level of just) 1.26 grams, which means the product does not meet standards for Grade A.”

The department says consumers should avoid barbecue ingredients that are too brightly colored, too white, or oddly colored. Ingredients that smell strange should be avoided as well.

中秋節即將到來，不少民眾會規劃出遊烤肉，但在選購各種應景食材時要多留意，日前北市衛生局針對月餅製造業、麵包、糕餅、烘焙專賣店、食品材料行、傳統市場、超市、量販、餐飲店家等進行抽查，共抽驗101件，結果包括甜椒、進口蘿蔔、百香果、芹菜、青江菜、檸檬等11件產品檢出農藥不符規定。

台北市衛生局食品藥物管理科長陳怡婷表示：「11件產品中都是蔬果殘留不合格，這些產品它一個來源都還是來自於外縣市的種植，我們已經依來源所在地的部分，請所轄縣市衛生局進行後續的調查。」

另外也從市場、食品行、雜貨及東南亞販售食品店抽驗13件市售醬油，包含6件釀造醬油及7件非釀造醬油，結果發現該款醬油含氮量不到甲等，但卻宣稱是甲等醬油，與標示明顯不符。

陳怡婷指出：「甲級醬油所規定的總氮量應該要在每100毫升1.4公克以上，實際檢驗結果（總氮量）1.26公克，所以其實它還未到甲級的一個標準，大概介於就是乙級以上。」

北市衛生局也提醒，肉類及烤肉用蔬果等應景食品時應儘量避免購買顏色鮮艷、異常白皙或偏離傳統色澤太多的食品，購買的食品也應注意色澤及氣味是否正常，才能吃得安心。