A task force has identified 20 instances of imported oysters being fraudulently mixed with domestic products between December 2023 and March, with three cases resulting in fines and a prison sentence, the Fisheries Agency said yesterday.
Domestic oysters, valued for their rich nutritional profile, are a vital economic pillar for Taiwan’s coastal villages, the agency said in a statement.
However, unscrupulous vendors have increasingly been mixing cheaper imported oysters with premium local catch to maximize their profit margins, it said.
Photo courtesy of the Fisheries Agency via CNA
In response, the Office of Food Safety created a joint task force with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of Justice to conduct targeted inspections.
The task force used a forensic technique launched by the Fisheries Research Institute in late 2023 to differentiate between domestic and overseas oysters, the agency said.
Out of 119 retail oyster samples collected between December 2023 and March, 20 were confirmed to be of foreign origin, the agency said.
The perpetrators allegedly breached Articles 255 and 339 of the Criminal Code for fraudulent product marking and fraud respectively, it said, adding that the cases have been referred to the High Prosecutors’ Office for investigation.
In the three cases that already have a verdict, the offenders were handed fines of NT$200,000 and NT$100,000, while one person was sentenced to four months in prison, the agency said.
The domestic oyster harvesting season has begun and runs to October, so another round of random inspections at supermarkets, hypermarkets, traditional markets and e-commerce platforms has been launched, it added.
It urged the public to report any suspected cases of country-of-origin fraud or mislabeling to health authorities or prosecutors to help protect the local aquaculture industry.
Consumers are also encouraged to seek out oyster products with certified traceability QR codes or production logs to ensure they are supporting local farmers, it said.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday expressed “shock and regret” over a statement issued by his wife without his consent, and rejected her assertion that his eldest sister, Ma Yi-nan (馬以南), would manage his medical care or act as his spokesperson amid an ongoing embezzlement probe into his foundation. Ma Ying-jeou in a statement said he was shocked by a statement by his wife, Chou Mei-ching (周美青), regarding his affairs. Ma Yi-nan “must not” be in charge of his healthcare and other personal affairs, nor can she be allowed to represent the Ma family, the former president said. He said he was also
RSS