Hong Kong will be on guard to see if there are foods there that contain a questionable lard-based shortening from Taiwan, a Hong Kong official said yesterday.
Noting that Taiwanese authorities have identified more than 70 food companies that have been using a type of lard produced by Kao-hsiung-based Chang Guann Co (強冠企業), which was found to contain recycled kitchen oil, Hong Kong Food and Health Bureau Secretary Ko Wing-man (高永文) said that the city would also check whether any foods other than Maxim’s Cakes’ (美心西餅) pineapple buns have been using questionable shortening imported from Taiwan.
Maxim’s Cakes, a Hong Kong company that also has shops in Taiwan, said on Friday that it had recalled all of its pineapple buns after it was discovered that its shortening supplier, Chang Guann, was among the companies using recycled kitchen oil.
Hong Kong authorities will also try to trace the buyers of the tainted lard imported by Dah Chong Hong Kong Holdings from Taiwan, Ko said.
Dah Chong has recalled all related products, pending the investigation by Hong Kong health authorities.
A bakery owner said that its sales of the popular pineapple buns had dropped slightly since the scandal broke late on Thursday, although only Maxim’s Cakes was confirmed to have been using the tainted lard.
A Hong Kong importer of Taiwanese food said that while its products do not contain lard, its sales are likely to drop by 20 percent to 30 percent over the next three months because consumers will be less inclined to buy Taiwanese foods.
Among other businesses in Hong Kong affected by the scandal is Taiwan-based Black Bridge Foods (黑橋牌食品), which had to pull its sticky rice dumplings from the shelves because it was using the substandard shortening in the dumplings’ manufacturing.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS