Lawmakers yesterday said that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acted slowly in response to a case in which the hepatitis A virus was found in frozen berries, while the agency said that it enhanced border inspections and instructed local health departments to investigate.
The FDA on Friday reported that an inspection found that a bag of Kirkland Signature Three Berries Blend imported from Chile and sold at Costco stores tested positive for the hepatitis A virus.
A total of 17,431.78kg of berries was imported, but only 367.43kg, or 203 bags, remained in stock, it said, adding that what remained was pulled off shelves.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) said that a probe in March by the US FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that several people had been infected with hepatitis A after eating frozen berries, and some frozen berry products were recalled at Costco and other retailers.
Chung asked why Taiwan’s FDA had not started its own investigation until April 10 and why it had taken until a few days ago to detect the product carrying the virus.
He also asked why the retailer has not been fined.
The government should investigate where the products were contaminated, DPP Legislator Chen Ching-min (陳靜敏) said, adding that although most people with hepatitis A recover, it can be life-threatening for elderly people or people with chronic liver disease.
People who develop suspected symptoms within 60 days after eating the product should seek medical attention and tell the doctor about having eaten the berries, Chen said.
DPP Legislator Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) said that agencies should encourage people to eat more local fresh food, which would help reduce carbon emissions.
Taiwan FDA Deputy Director Lin Chin-fu (林金富) said that as soon as the agency received a warning from the US FDA, it immediately checked that berries from the batch were not imported to Taiwan and increased border inspections on frozen berries.
Costco on March 27 submitted a batch of mixed frozen berries from Chile to be tested, and inspections were launched when the virus was detected on April 10, Lin said.
The Taiwan FDA has instructed the Kaohsiung Department of Health to further investigate the case and a fine of NT$60,000 to NT$200 million (US$1,949 to US$6.5 million) would be imposed if the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (食品安全衛生管理法) has been contravened, he said.
Consumer Protection Office senior consumer ombudsman Wang Te-ming (王德明) said that the office has asked its ombudsman to help people with refund issues.
The Taipei-based Consumers’ Foundation and the Consumer Protection Association in Kaohsiung have agreed to assist in a class action lawsuit if needed, Wang said.
Separately, Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said that among 31 local cases of hepatitis A infection reported this year, its investigations had determined that none of the people had eaten Costco’s Kirkland Signature Three Berries Blend product before the onset of symptoms.
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