Overall residual cadmium in chocolate is to be limited in line with international standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said yesterday.
A draft amendment to the Sanitation Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food (食品中污染物質及毒素衛生標準) states that the total volume of dried coca solids, or powder, is to determine the residual cadmium amount in chocolate products.
The amendment separates the residual cadmium into five levels, stating that 20 to 30 percent of coca solids can only have 0.3mg/kg of residual cadmium, 30 to 50 percent can have 0.7mg/kg, 50 to 70 percent can have 0.8mg/kg, 70 percent and above can have 0.9mg/kg, and cocoa powder can have 2mg/kg.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
The amendment was proposed citing George Washington University research showing that more than 40 percent of dark chocolate products have been contaminated by lead and cadmium, with some products having more than 6.5 times the permitted amount of residual heavy metals.
The Consumer Foundation inspected dark chocolate products for heavy metal residuals last year. It found that select products exceeded the suggested amount and that the ministry had no standing regulations to curb excess heavy metals in chocolate products.
Food and Drug Administration Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu (林金富) said that the amount of residual cadmium is determined by the species of cocoa beans used, the environment they grew in and the total amount of cocoa solids used.
Lin said that international regulations often use the amount of cocoa solids as the basis for regulatory policies.
As the majority of chocolate products in Taiwan are imported, the agency would solicit opinions and, if necessary, introduce further amendments to uphold food security, he said, adding that there would be a 60-day period, which started yesterday, to gather public and expert opinions.
Provided the draft amendment does not provoke a backlash, it is expected to be promulgated by Jan. 1 next year, Lin said.
All chocolate products in circulation are expected to comply with the new standards upon its promulgation, regardless of manufacturing date, he said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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