Taipei City's Department of Health conducted an inspection of Lunar New Year foods sold at traditional markets and other sales channels. A lot of silver ear mushrooms in the market were found to contain an illegal amount of growth regulator.
These two types of silver ear mushrooms from China were found to contain plant growth regulator chlormequat chloride. According to Taiwan's regulation, such chemical compounds are only allowed to be used on rye and chrysanthemum.
Chen I-ting, Division Chief, Dept. of Health, Taipei City: “We discovered growth regulator compounds, namely chlormequat chloride, on certain silver ear mushrooms imported from China. It's a violation of the regulation. We found seven items so far that are not qualified. ”
Amongst the Lunar New Year foods inspection, silver ear mushrooms, which are mostly used in Chinese desserts, were the top items found to contain an illegal amount of growth regulator compounds. Coincidentally, all items that failed to pass Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration's regulations come from China. Bamboo pith is usually used for making soup, and over 38.5 percent of bamboo pith inspected contain growth regulators as well. Heavy metal residues were found in some almond mushrooms and one famous dried bean curd company from Taoyuan had two items containing slightly more preservatives than allowed. Taipei City's Department of Health has asked local Taoyuan health authorities to take care of the issue.
Dried Bean Curd Seller: “When we did our own inspection, the preservative level was lower than the standard. We probably didn't mix all ingredients and elements thoroughly to make it all even.”
The dried bean curd company said they have taken care of the problem immediately after receiving notice from the health authority. Taipei City's Department of Health said the inspection was done during November and December and they have successfully withdrawn all unqualified food products from the market. One trading company in Taipei City received a NT$30,000 fine for not being able to identify the source of their food and ingredient.
這兩款產地是中國的白木耳，在超市通路中被抽驗，結果驗出違規添加物克美素。這款生長調節劑，雖然是合法農藥，但依照我國法規，目前僅被允許用在大小黑麥和菊花，不能添加在其他農作物上。
台北市衛生局科長陳怡婷指出：「有發現就是從中國大陸進口的白木耳，它有一個生長調節劑，克美素不合格的紀錄，依規定它是不得檢出的。所以目前抽出來的，有7件是不合格的產品。」
常被拿來製作甜品的白木耳，在北市年節食品抽驗專案中，不合格率最高。不合格的品項恰巧都來自中國，違法添加生長調節劑。另外常被用來燉湯品的竹笙，不合格率也有35.8%。還有巴西蘑菇，被驗出殘留重金屬。另外，桃園知名豆干業者有兩個品項，也被驗出防腐劑微量超標，北市衛生局已經移請地方衛生局處理。
豆干業者說：「我們在抽的時候，基本上驗都是低於標準的。應該是我們在投料的時候，造成它拌料不均勻。」
業者表示，自行抽驗沒問題，但接到衛生局通知，第一時間已經下架改善。台北市衛生局表示，這次專案稽查是在11月到12月間完成，都已經通知相關通路，下架完成並追溯源頭。其中一家位在台北市的貿易公司，因無法提供品項來源，直接被開罰3萬元。