Control Yuan member Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) yesterday said she has requested an investigation into reports that some turnip cake (luobogao, 蘿蔔糕) products might not contain any turnip (daikon radish), instead using mainly modified starch.
Chinese-language media have reported that, to reduce costs and manufacturing time, some turnip cake manufacturers used modified starch and in some cases did not have any turnip in products labelled as “turnip cake,” Tien said in a statement.
Such practices make it difficult for consumers to distinguish products and might contravene the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (食品安全衛生管理法), she said.
Photo: Taipei Times
Ministry of Health and Welfare rules require that some food products — including fruit and vegetable juices, flavored milk and packaged rice vermicelli — display percentages of key ingredients on packaging.
However, consumers would reasonably expect turnip cake, a common Taiwanese food, to contain turnip, yet packaging does not clearly indicate how much turnip is included, Tien said.
Some manufacturers have reportedly used modified starch or other substitutes without disclosing actual ingredient proportions, which might also contravene food safety regulations, she said.
“It compromises consumers’ right to information and might easily lead to potential risks,” she said, adding that she has asked the Control Yuan to investigate.
Tien said she would review whether labeling rules are sufficient to force disclosure of main ingredients.
The Control Yuan has asked the health ministry to clarify labeling rules for turnip cakes, but follow-up audits over nearly two years suggest the issue remains unresolved, she said.
“As this issue affects consumer rights and public health, a thorough investigation is necessary,” she said.
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