Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
NOWnews December 5, 2013 Reporter Chen Kunkai / Taipei Report
School lunches are also unsafe! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare today (5th) announced the latest test results for pesticide residues in agricultural products. A total of 21 vegetables and fruits were found non-compliant. Notably, among 44 samples taken from school lunches, 4 were found non-compliant. The large-leaf cabbage served at Shen'ao Elementary School in Keelung was found to contain the highly toxic insecticide Phorate, exceeding the limit by 33 times. Consuming just two small heads could lead to excessive intake, potentially causing severe respiratory failure.
In the afternoon, the FDA released the results of pesticide residue tests conducted in October on commercially available and packaged agricultural products. Among them, 19 vegetables and 2 fruits failed to meet standards, with a non-compliance rate of 10%. Of particular concern to parents is that out of 44 samples taken from 15 elementary and middle schools nationwide and 5 food suppliers, 4 were found to contain excessive pesticide residues.
The most severe case involved "large-leaf cabbage" from Shen'ao Elementary School in Keelung, which tested positive for Phorate at 1.66 ppm—33.2 times the safe limit of 0.05 ppm.
The other three non-compliant samples contained pesticides that should not be detected at all:
- "Wood ear mushrooms" from Daye Junior High School in Chiayi City contained the insecticide Chlorpyrifos at 0.02 ppm.
- "Amaranth" from Changxing Elementary School in Keelung City contained the fungicide Cyazofamid at 0.49 ppm.
- "Bok choy" from Hegang Elementary School in Miaoli County contained the insecticide Fipronil at 0.009 ppm.
Xu Jinfeng, Deputy Director of the FDA’s Southern Regional Center, explained that Phorate is an organophosphate insecticide with neurotoxic effects. It can disrupt nerve transmission, directly impacting the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neuromuscular systems. Based on the 1.66 ppm detected in the cabbage from Shen'ao Elementary School, consuming just 25.3 grams—about two small heads—would exceed the safe limit.
Xu emphasized that Shen'ao Elementary School has already required its supplier to submit safety certifications every two weeks. Additionally, for non-compliant products, local health bureaus have been notified to trace their sources and confiscate and destroy them. Suppliers who refuse to provide information or submit false data may face fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$3 million under the Food Safety Act.
Dr. Yan Zonghai, a nephrologist at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, stated that Phorate is a highly neurotoxic pesticide, and its excessive presence in elementary school lunches is particularly concerning given that children’s brains and organs are still developing. Clinically, cases of Phorate poisoning are common in Taiwan, with patients often arriving at hospitals with symptoms such as excessive tears, drooling, incontinence, and in severe cases, respiratory failure, convulsions, and unconsciousness.
Among the other non-compliant samples, two cases of bok choy and two cases of rapeseed were found to contain the highly toxic insecticide Fipronil, which should not be detectable. Additionally, "red chili peppers" from PX Mart’s Nanyang store in Nantou were found to contain the non-compliant fungicide Difenoconazole.Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ pes……ady- excessive- 085018306. html
Pesticide Levels 33 Times over Limit! Toxic Cabbage in School Lunches—Just 2 Small Heads Exceed Safe Dose
School lunches are also unsafe! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare today (5th) announced the latest test results for pesticide residues in agricultural products. A total of 21 vegetables and fruits were found non-compliant. Notably, among 44 samples taken from school lunches, 4 were found non-compliant. The large-leaf cabbage served at Shen'ao Elementary School in Keelung was found to contain the highly toxic insecticide Phorate, exceeding the limit by 33 times. Consuming just two small heads could lead to excessive intake, potentially causing severe respiratory failure.
In the afternoon, the FDA released the results of pesticide residue tests conducted in October on commercially available and packaged agricultural products. Among them, 19 vegetables and 2 fruits failed to meet standards, with a non-compliance rate of 10%. Of particular concern to parents is that out of 44 samples taken from 15 elementary and middle schools nationwide and 5 food suppliers, 4 were found to contain excessive pesticide residues.
The most severe case involved "large-leaf cabbage" from Shen'ao Elementary School in Keelung, which tested positive for Phorate at 1.66 ppm—33.2 times the safe limit of 0.05 ppm.
The other three non-compliant samples contained pesticides that should not be detected at all:
- "Wood ear mushrooms" from Daye Junior High School in Chiayi City contained the insecticide Chlorpyrifos at 0.02 ppm.
- "Amaranth" from Changxing Elementary School in Keelung City contained the fungicide Cyazofamid at 0.49 ppm.
- "Bok choy" from Hegang Elementary School in Miaoli County contained the insecticide Fipronil at 0.009 ppm.
Xu Jinfeng, Deputy Director of the FDA’s Southern Regional Center, explained that Phorate is an organophosphate insecticide with neurotoxic effects. It can disrupt nerve transmission, directly impacting the respiratory, cardiovascular, and neuromuscular systems. Based on the 1.66 ppm detected in the cabbage from Shen'ao Elementary School, consuming just 25.3 grams—about two small heads—would exceed the safe limit.
Xu emphasized that Shen'ao Elementary School has already required its supplier to submit safety certifications every two weeks. Additionally, for non-compliant products, local health bureaus have been notified to trace their sources and confiscate and destroy them. Suppliers who refuse to provide information or submit false data may face fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$3 million under the Food Safety Act.
Dr. Yan Zonghai, a nephrologist at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, stated that Phorate is a highly neurotoxic pesticide, and its excessive presence in elementary school lunches is particularly concerning given that children’s brains and organs are still developing. Clinically, cases of Phorate poisoning are common in Taiwan, with patients often arriving at hospitals with symptoms such as excessive tears, drooling, incontinence, and in severe cases, respiratory failure, convulsions, and unconsciousness.
Among the other non-compliant samples, two cases of bok choy and two cases of rapeseed were found to contain the highly toxic insecticide Fipronil, which should not be detectable. Additionally, "red chili peppers" from PX Mart’s Nanyang store in Nantou were found to contain the non-compliant fungicide Difenoconazole.Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ pes……ady- excessive- 085018306. html