Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
NOWnews – May 21, 2012
Reporter Li Lingling / Taipei Report
Store-bought asparagus juice may contain no asparagus? The Consumer Protection Office announced today (21st) that recent inspections of commercially available juices revealed significant issues with the insufficient content of original juice in asparagus drinks, along with incomplete product labeling. Notably, Jin Jin Asparagus Juice and Wei Wang Asparagus Dew had previously passed the GMP certification for food safety. However, the GMP certification has since been discontinued, and the New Taipei City and Yunlin County governments have ordered the products to be recalled and destroyed in accordance with the law. The New Taipei City Health Bureau also fined the Jin Jin manufacturer NT$40,000.
The former Consumer Protection Commission (now reorganized as the Consumer Protection Office) led local health bureaus in November 2011 to inspect packaged juices on the market. Out of 40 samples tested, five failed to meet food safety standards. One was Uni-President Tomato Juice, while the other four were asparagus juices: Jin Jin Asparagus Juice, Green Asparagus Juice, Wei Wang Asparagus Dew, and Kiss Green Asparagus Juice.
Consumer Protection Officer Wang Deming stated that the four brands of asparagus juice had insufficient original juice content. Jin Jin Asparagus Juice claimed a 20% content but actually had only 4%; Green Asparagus Juice claimed 10% but had 4%; Wei Wang Asparagus Dew claimed 10% but had 3%; and Kiss Green Asparagus Juice claimed 20% but had 8%. Both Jin Jin Asparagus Juice and Wei Wang Asparagus Dew had carried the GMP safety certification, which was revoked by the Industrial Development Bureau on January 30 and March 9 of this year, respectively, after the inspection results were released.
Wei Jingsiong, spokesperson for Wei Wang Company, admitted that there were deficiencies in product flavor and adjustments, stating they respected the authorities' decision. Wei Wang Asparagus Dew has since been discontinued and is no longer available on the market, though the company plans to introduce a new formula in the future.
The inspection also revealed issues with ingredient labeling. For example, Jin Jin Asparagus Juice and Green Asparagus Juice, produced by Ho Lin Food Company, contained powdered asparagus extracts, including vanilla powder, carotene, sulfates, and asparagus flavoring. Wei Wang Asparagus Dew also contained food additives such as glycine, aspartic acid, and vitamin B2. Additionally, Uni-President Tomato Juice contained glycine.
Wang Deming noted that while these additives are legally approved by the Department of Health, the manufacturers' failure to disclose them on packaging could mislead consumers into believing the artificial flavors were natural.
Regarding the problematic asparagus juices, the New Taipei City and Yunlin County governments have ordered recalls and destruction of the products. The New Taipei City Health Bureau also fined Ho Lin Company NT$40,000 for violations of the Food Sanitation Management Act concerning Jin Jin Asparagus Juice and Green Asparagus Juice.
Wu Zhengxue, Deputy Director of the Consumer Protection Office, added that in response to the issues with juice ingredients, the Department of Health has been asked to formulate a plan within six months to inspect other juice brands.Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E8……5% 8F% E9% A1% 8C- 040411964. html;_ylt=AuKjC2OQXzfIT2ORIxs2raWVBdF_;_ylu=X3oDMTQ4dThobmdpBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBGUCBsaXN0aW5nIHNob3J0BHBrZwNjN2VhNjk2MC1iNTA5LTNkNjAtYjcxMy0yOTk2YTdjMWIyZTEEcG9zAzMEc2VjA3RvcF9zdG9yeV9jb2tlBHZlcgM1ZTcyYTFiOC1hMzFmLTExZTEtYmZkYy01NzcyZDI3ZDkxODA-;_ylg=X3oDMTFucXJnOGdpBGludGwDdHcEbGFuZwN6aC1oYW50LXR3BHBzdGFpZAMEcHN0Y2F0A2hvbWUEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3
No Asparagus in Asparagus Juice? GMP Violations Found in Jin Jin and Wei Wang Products
Reporter Li Lingling / Taipei Report
Store-bought asparagus juice may contain no asparagus? The Consumer Protection Office announced today (21st) that recent inspections of commercially available juices revealed significant issues with the insufficient content of original juice in asparagus drinks, along with incomplete product labeling. Notably, Jin Jin Asparagus Juice and Wei Wang Asparagus Dew had previously passed the GMP certification for food safety. However, the GMP certification has since been discontinued, and the New Taipei City and Yunlin County governments have ordered the products to be recalled and destroyed in accordance with the law. The New Taipei City Health Bureau also fined the Jin Jin manufacturer NT$40,000.
The former Consumer Protection Commission (now reorganized as the Consumer Protection Office) led local health bureaus in November 2011 to inspect packaged juices on the market. Out of 40 samples tested, five failed to meet food safety standards. One was Uni-President Tomato Juice, while the other four were asparagus juices: Jin Jin Asparagus Juice, Green Asparagus Juice, Wei Wang Asparagus Dew, and Kiss Green Asparagus Juice.
Consumer Protection Officer Wang Deming stated that the four brands of asparagus juice had insufficient original juice content. Jin Jin Asparagus Juice claimed a 20% content but actually had only 4%; Green Asparagus Juice claimed 10% but had 4%; Wei Wang Asparagus Dew claimed 10% but had 3%; and Kiss Green Asparagus Juice claimed 20% but had 8%. Both Jin Jin Asparagus Juice and Wei Wang Asparagus Dew had carried the GMP safety certification, which was revoked by the Industrial Development Bureau on January 30 and March 9 of this year, respectively, after the inspection results were released.
Wei Jingsiong, spokesperson for Wei Wang Company, admitted that there were deficiencies in product flavor and adjustments, stating they respected the authorities' decision. Wei Wang Asparagus Dew has since been discontinued and is no longer available on the market, though the company plans to introduce a new formula in the future.
The inspection also revealed issues with ingredient labeling. For example, Jin Jin Asparagus Juice and Green Asparagus Juice, produced by Ho Lin Food Company, contained powdered asparagus extracts, including vanilla powder, carotene, sulfates, and asparagus flavoring. Wei Wang Asparagus Dew also contained food additives such as glycine, aspartic acid, and vitamin B2. Additionally, Uni-President Tomato Juice contained glycine.
Wang Deming noted that while these additives are legally approved by the Department of Health, the manufacturers' failure to disclose them on packaging could mislead consumers into believing the artificial flavors were natural.
Regarding the problematic asparagus juices, the New Taipei City and Yunlin County governments have ordered recalls and destruction of the products. The New Taipei City Health Bureau also fined Ho Lin Company NT$40,000 for violations of the Food Sanitation Management Act concerning Jin Jin Asparagus Juice and Green Asparagus Juice.
Wu Zhengxue, Deputy Director of the Consumer Protection Office, added that in response to the issues with juice ingredients, the Department of Health has been asked to formulate a plan within six months to inspect other juice brands.Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E8……5% 8F% E9% A1% 8C- 040411964. html;_ylt=AuKjC2OQXzfIT2ORIxs2raWVBdF_;_ylu=X3oDMTQ4dThobmdpBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBGUCBsaXN0aW5nIHNob3J0BHBrZwNjN2VhNjk2MC1iNTA5LTNkNjAtYjcxMy0yOTk2YTdjMWIyZTEEcG9zAzMEc2VjA3RvcF9zdG9yeV9jb2tlBHZlcgM1ZTcyYTFiOC1hMzFmLTExZTEtYmZkYy01NzcyZDI3ZDkxODA-;_ylg=X3oDMTFucXJnOGdpBGludGwDdHcEbGFuZwN6aC1oYW50LXR3BHBzdGFpZAMEcHN0Y2F0A2hvbWUEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3