All 30 goji berry products tested across the country were found to contain traces of heavy metals, primarily cadmium and lead, the Consumer Protection Association in Taiwan said today.
The association called on the government to raise standards and tighten border inspections and market monitoring, as some of the 30 were even certified as organic.
Suppliers should also disclose product origin and provide test reports for consumer reference, while consumers are advised to choose clearly labeled products, check test results and avoid excessive or prolonged consumption, it added.
Photo: Taipei Times
Goji berries have become popular in recent years due to their perceived health benefits, consumed in teas, soups or eaten whole.
However, Taiwan does not produce goji berries, only goji leaves, so all berries sold in Taiwan are imported.
About 90 percent originate from China, in particular Xinjiang, Qinghai and Gansu provinces.
Four products were found to have surpassed the permissible limit for cadmium levels in Taiwan, set at 0.05ppm, with the worst offender found to contain 0.081ppm, the association said.
The products were sold at a chain supermarket, a wholesale market and an online shopping platform, it said.
Two products were found to have lead levels of 0.13mg/kg, exceeding the permissible limit of 0.1mg/kg, with one a red berry variant sold in a supermarket chain and the other a black variety purchased online, it said.
During the production process, there are many instances in which goji berries may come into contact with contaminated soil, fertilizer or irrigation, while the berries naturally absorb heavy metals from soil, it added.
However, heavy metal limits are based on fresh fruit, whereas all goji berries sold in Taiwan are dried, it said.
As heavy metal concentrations are often amplified by the drying process due to water loss, even if tests show levels above the set standard, they cannot technically be considered violations, although they may still pose a potential health risk if consumed long-term, the association said.
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