Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
October 19, 2015, Reporter Chen Kunkai / Taipei Report
Another case of unethical food practices! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced today (19th) that it had received a tip-off and uncovered that Licheng Food (Licheng Trading Company) in Pingtung City was adding non-food-grade hydrogen peroxide (commonly known as bleach) during the production of yellow dried tofu to whiten and alter its appearance for better market appeal. Approximately 1,350 kilograms of the problematic yellow dried tofu were sealed on-site. These products were all sold to traditional markets in Pingtung City. The local health bureau traced the previous distribution of the products, but due to the short shelf life of dried tofu, no inventory remained—meaning all of it had already been consumed by the public.
Liu Fangming, Director of the FDA’s Southern Regional Management Center, stated that on October 15, the FDA, along with the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office, the Criminal Investigation Brigade’s Livelihood Crime Unit of the Pingtung County Police Department, and the Pingtung County Health Bureau, conducted an inspection of Licheng Food. As reported by the whistleblower, the company was indeed found to have illegally added non-food-grade hydrogen peroxide during the production of yellow dried tofu. Around 1,350 kilograms of yellow dried tofu were sealed on-site, and six barrels of non-food-grade hydrogen peroxide were discovered, each weighing 30 kilograms—three of which were already empty.
Liu Fangming explained that while hydrogen peroxide is an approved food additive, it must be food-grade and leave no residue, as required by law. The company not only used non-food-grade hydrogen peroxide but also had its yellow dried tofu tested and confirmed by the Pingtung County Health Bureau to contain hydrogen peroxide, constituting a clear violation.
Liu Fangming emphasized that using non-food-grade hydrogen peroxide violates Article 15 of the Food Safety Act, which carries penalties ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$200 million in fines. Additionally, offenders may face up to seven years in prison and fines of up to NT$80 million. In severe cases, businesses may be ordered to suspend operations, cease operations for a specified period, or have their company, commercial, or factory registrations partially or fully revoked. Food operators whose registrations are revoked cannot reapply for registration within one year.
According to health authorities, excessive consumption of hydrogen peroxide may cause symptoms such as headaches and vomiting. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide has strong oxidizing properties, which can lead to corrosive damage to the skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal tract.
Source: http://www. nownews. com/ n/ 2015/ 10/ 19/ 1849153
Shocking! Industrial Hydrogen Peroxide Used to Bleach Tofu, 1,350kg Seized
Another case of unethical food practices! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced today (19th) that it had received a tip-off and uncovered that Licheng Food (Licheng Trading Company) in Pingtung City was adding non-food-grade hydrogen peroxide (commonly known as bleach) during the production of yellow dried tofu to whiten and alter its appearance for better market appeal. Approximately 1,350 kilograms of the problematic yellow dried tofu were sealed on-site. These products were all sold to traditional markets in Pingtung City. The local health bureau traced the previous distribution of the products, but due to the short shelf life of dried tofu, no inventory remained—meaning all of it had already been consumed by the public.
Liu Fangming, Director of the FDA’s Southern Regional Management Center, stated that on October 15, the FDA, along with the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office, the Criminal Investigation Brigade’s Livelihood Crime Unit of the Pingtung County Police Department, and the Pingtung County Health Bureau, conducted an inspection of Licheng Food. As reported by the whistleblower, the company was indeed found to have illegally added non-food-grade hydrogen peroxide during the production of yellow dried tofu. Around 1,350 kilograms of yellow dried tofu were sealed on-site, and six barrels of non-food-grade hydrogen peroxide were discovered, each weighing 30 kilograms—three of which were already empty.
Liu Fangming explained that while hydrogen peroxide is an approved food additive, it must be food-grade and leave no residue, as required by law. The company not only used non-food-grade hydrogen peroxide but also had its yellow dried tofu tested and confirmed by the Pingtung County Health Bureau to contain hydrogen peroxide, constituting a clear violation.
Liu Fangming emphasized that using non-food-grade hydrogen peroxide violates Article 15 of the Food Safety Act, which carries penalties ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$200 million in fines. Additionally, offenders may face up to seven years in prison and fines of up to NT$80 million. In severe cases, businesses may be ordered to suspend operations, cease operations for a specified period, or have their company, commercial, or factory registrations partially or fully revoked. Food operators whose registrations are revoked cannot reapply for registration within one year.
According to health authorities, excessive consumption of hydrogen peroxide may cause symptoms such as headaches and vomiting. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide has strong oxidizing properties, which can lead to corrosive damage to the skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal tract.
Source: http://www. nownews. com/ n/ 2015/ 10/ 19/ 1849153