Noodles fail health tests

Savoring cold drinks, ice or chilled noodles on sizzling days can help drive away the heat, but consumers must choose products that meet hygienic standards to avoid hospital visits, a consumer group warned yesterday.

People should also be aware of the ingredients the snacks are made of and the environments in which they are prepared and served.

"The higher the temperature climbs, the bigger the problems are related to food safety," said Cheng Jen-hung (程仁宏), secre-tary general of the Consumers' Foundation (消基會).

Although the foundation and related government agencies conduct hygiene checks on these items every summer, these inspections don't mean all foods have been tested regularly.

The Department of Health under Taipei City Government released an investigation report Monday on nine types of cold noodles sold at the five convenience-store chains. It revealed that only the samples from President Chain Store's (統一超商) 7-Eleven outlets passed hygiene criteria.

"The products from the other four operators contain higher than allowed coliform group bacteria, which is a worrying factor but would not make people ill," said Tony Cheng (鄭萬金), health department director.

He said the department has ordered the store operators to improve their manufacturing processes and make sure the chilled products are kept at low temperatures throughout the distribution process.

Although the testing results have not been reflected in sales figures in convenience stores, some consumers said they would refrain from buying the products.

"That [the report] is big news. I will not pick up cold noodles from their shelves for a while," said consumer Monica Liu (劉敏琪), adding that she used to have chilled noodles for lunch.

The department said it will conduct follow-up tests in the coming weeks and violators will be fined between NT$30,000 and NT$150,000 in accord with the Act Governing Food Sanitation (食品衛生管理法). The Consumers' Foundation criticized the penalties as too minor to deter manufacturers and distributors, and therefore similar scenes are repeated every year.

In response, some convenience-store chains said they have followed the guidelines in manufacturing and transporting these chilled foods.

Banson Peng (彭傳璋), marketing manager of Hi-Life International Co (萊爾富), said the contaminated products were immediately destroyed when the results were unveiled and that the company keeps a close eye on the manufacturing process.

The foundation suggested that consumers buy chilled noodles from retailers with sanitary environments and consume the items within two hours.

To raise public awareness and pressure retailers to improve quality control, the foundation will hold a press conference next week to announce its list of snack shops and roadside stands that sell unsanitary shaved ice.