The Kaohsiung Department of Health on Tuesday said it ordered the dumpling chain Bafang Yunji (八方雲集) to recall all chili powder, after it was found to be a recipient of spices potentially tainted with the carcinogenic dye Sudan III.
The dumpling chain had originally said it had not purchased chili powder flagged by health officials, after the department on Monday named it among the companies that had received the tainted ingredient.
As explanation, it said it uses coarse chili powder, which is different from the fine chili powder tested by the department.
Photo: Chang Tsung-chiu, Taipei Times
However, the department on Tuesday presented import permits from Gin Zhan International Co (津棧國際貿易) and Chia Guang International Co (佳廣國際貿易) — both companies found to have imported chili powder with trace amounts of the banned industrial dye — to supply Bafang Yunji, saying there is no difference between the coarse and fine versions.
Afterward, Bafang Yunji in a statement said it would cooperate with the investigation and stop using any ingredients purchased from the importers.
The chili powder it uses is all tested by SGS for traces of Sudan III and other banned chemicals before it is shipped to factories, the company added.
The department in its Monday announcement also named the hot pot chain Haidilao (海底撈), Weiyuan Food (味源), Hao Pin Wei Biotech and Food (好品味生技食品), Wei Lih Food Industry (維力食品工業) and Yipin Spice (億品香料) as among the companies that had received chili powder from the importers.
Additional reporting by CNA
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