A 30kg shipment of walnut oil imported from France was recently blocked at the border after tests found it contained the color additive copper chlorophyllin A, which is banned in edible oils.
The walnut oil was imported by a Taiwanese company that advertised its products as natural, non-toxic and environmentally friendly, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said today.
However, testing showed that the oil contained 0.1 parts per million of copper chlorophyllin A, which is not permitted in edible oil products under the Standards for Specification, Scope, Application and Limitation of Food Additives (食品添加物使用範圍及限量暨規格標準), the agency said.
Photo courtesy of the Food and Drug Administration
The shipment must be returned to the exporter or destroyed, the FDA said.
Copper chlorophyllin A is an approved food coloring, but its use is restricted to certain products such as chewing gum, said Liu Fang-ming (劉芳銘), director of the FDA's Northern Taiwan Management Center.
It is not allowed in edible oils or staple foods such as noodles, which are typically consumed in larger quantities, due to food safety concerns, Liu said, adding that the regulations are intended to ensure that staple foods such as edible oils retain their natural color.
The importer is to face stricter inspections of its shipments, while walnut oil products from France are also to face heightened scrutiny at the border.
Separately, the FDA said that it intercepted 1,400kg of coriander and cumin seeds imported from India after detecting multiple pesticide residues, including acetamiprid and chlorpyrifos.
The products must also be returned or destroyed, it said.
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