Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
Liberty Times – February 10, 2012, 10:27 AM
[Liberty Times Reporter Hong Suqing / Taipei Report] Following the rejection of two batches totaling 20,000 kilograms of Chinese imported wolfberries due to the detection of banned pesticides at the end of January, three more batches weighing up to 32,000 kilograms of Chinese wolfberries were found to contain prohibited pesticides in early February, preventing their entry into Taiwan. In just one week, over 50,000 kilograms of Chinese wolfberries were found to have excessive pesticide residues, raising serious concerns about the food safety of Taiwanese consumers!
The majority of wolfberries and other Chinese herbal medicines in Taiwan’s market come from China. Among the five batches of wolfberries recently tested, many were found to contain the insecticide endosulfan, which is prohibited in wolfberries in Taiwan. Additionally, one batch tested positive for three types of banned pesticides, while another contained both endosulfan and another prohibited pesticide. Other commonly used Chinese herbs such as lily bulbs, dried tangerine peel, and mint, also originating from China, were found to have excessive pesticide residues in this inspection.
Lin Jieliang, director of the Clinical Toxicology Department at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, stated that endosulfan is a type of organochlorine pesticide, similar to DDT. Although its toxicity is relatively low compared to other pesticides, it should still not be used. Ingesting endosulfan can cause liver damage, miscarriages, and impair immunity in severe cases.
**Experts Suggest Maintaining Batch-by-Batch Inspections and Requiring Test Reports**
Officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explained that the recent surge in violations is partly due to increased imports ahead of the Lunar New Year. The FDA also switched to batch-by-batch inspections for high-demand dried goods during the holiday season. The agency will decide whether to adjust sampling rates based on improvements from China.
Lin Jieliang pointed out that if batch-by-batch inspections revealed so many issues, it raises concerns about how much contaminated product may have already entered the market, similar to the case of ractopamine-tainted beef. He recommended maintaining batch-by-batch inspections and even requiring test reports from suppliers.
Huang Linhuang, chairman of the Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, stated that to ensure public safety, 18 types of dual-use herbs (both food and medicine), including wolfberries, have been classified as food ingredients in recent years, subject to stricter pesticide residue standards. Regardless of China’s regulations, imports must comply with Taiwan’s standards.
As for other Chinese herbal medicines, which are not consumed daily and in smaller quantities, there were previously no specific testing standards. However, starting next week, border and source management will be strengthened. Importers will be required to provide compliant products and test reports from suppliers, while border inspections will include a 5% sampling rate to verify report accuracy. Market monitoring mechanisms will also be implemented.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E4……0% 80% E9% 81% 8B- 202803781. html
China's Wolfberries Contain Banned Pesticides: 50,000kg Detected in A Week, Urgently Returned
[Liberty Times Reporter Hong Suqing / Taipei Report] Following the rejection of two batches totaling 20,000 kilograms of Chinese imported wolfberries due to the detection of banned pesticides at the end of January, three more batches weighing up to 32,000 kilograms of Chinese wolfberries were found to contain prohibited pesticides in early February, preventing their entry into Taiwan. In just one week, over 50,000 kilograms of Chinese wolfberries were found to have excessive pesticide residues, raising serious concerns about the food safety of Taiwanese consumers!
The majority of wolfberries and other Chinese herbal medicines in Taiwan’s market come from China. Among the five batches of wolfberries recently tested, many were found to contain the insecticide endosulfan, which is prohibited in wolfberries in Taiwan. Additionally, one batch tested positive for three types of banned pesticides, while another contained both endosulfan and another prohibited pesticide. Other commonly used Chinese herbs such as lily bulbs, dried tangerine peel, and mint, also originating from China, were found to have excessive pesticide residues in this inspection.
Lin Jieliang, director of the Clinical Toxicology Department at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, stated that endosulfan is a type of organochlorine pesticide, similar to DDT. Although its toxicity is relatively low compared to other pesticides, it should still not be used. Ingesting endosulfan can cause liver damage, miscarriages, and impair immunity in severe cases.
**Experts Suggest Maintaining Batch-by-Batch Inspections and Requiring Test Reports**
Officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explained that the recent surge in violations is partly due to increased imports ahead of the Lunar New Year. The FDA also switched to batch-by-batch inspections for high-demand dried goods during the holiday season. The agency will decide whether to adjust sampling rates based on improvements from China.
Lin Jieliang pointed out that if batch-by-batch inspections revealed so many issues, it raises concerns about how much contaminated product may have already entered the market, similar to the case of ractopamine-tainted beef. He recommended maintaining batch-by-batch inspections and even requiring test reports from suppliers.
Huang Linhuang, chairman of the Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, stated that to ensure public safety, 18 types of dual-use herbs (both food and medicine), including wolfberries, have been classified as food ingredients in recent years, subject to stricter pesticide residue standards. Regardless of China’s regulations, imports must comply with Taiwan’s standards.
As for other Chinese herbal medicines, which are not consumed daily and in smaller quantities, there were previously no specific testing standards. However, starting next week, border and source management will be strengthened. Importers will be required to provide compliant products and test reports from suppliers, while border inspections will include a 5% sampling rate to verify report accuracy. Market monitoring mechanisms will also be implemented.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ % E4……0% 80% E9% 81% 8B- 202803781. html