Nearly 50% of New Taipei City's dried tofu samples failed

In response to the upcoming Zhongyuan Festival, the New Taipei City Government’s Health Bureau sampled 20 dried tofu products and found that 9 of them did not comply with regulations, a violation rate of 45%. The Health Bureau stated that among the 9 illegal products, 5 were found to contain fungicides, 4 contained added saponin (industrial pigment), and 1 was also found to contain excessive amounts of preservatives. All of them have been punished in accordance with relevant regulations.

Inspectors from the New Taipei City Health Bureau found a vendor named Zhang selling dried tofu in Xindian, which was found to contain fungicide ingredients. (Photo courtesy of New Taipei City Health Bureau)

Lin Guanzhen, chief of the Food and Drug Administration Division of the Department of Health, said that among the five dried tofu products that were found to have illegally used the disinfectant "hydrogen peroxide", four were produced and supplied by the same business in New Taipei City, and the other was produced and supplied by a business in the "Huannan Market" in Taipei City. The sales location has been notified to remove the illegal product from the shelves. The other 4 items that were found to contain "soap yellow" were 2 from the "Huannan Market" and the other 2 were provided by local businesses. One case violated the double rules of adding soap yellow and the preservative - benzoic acid. The Department of Health calls on consumers to choose merchants with good reputation and credit, and avoid buying tofu products with bright or too white appearance. (Photo courtesy of New Taipei City Health Bureau)

Manufacturers who violate regulations in the use of fungicides and preservatives will be fined NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 in accordance with Article 12 of the Food Sanitation Management Act and Article 33 of the same act. In addition, manufacturers who violate the regulations by using "soap yellow" will be fined not less than NT$60,000 and not more than NT$6 million in accordance with Article 31 of the Food Sanitation Management Act for violating the provisions of Article 11, Paragraph 1, Item 3 of the Food Sanitation Management Act.

The hydrogen peroxide content in dried tofu exceeds the standard, which may cause irritation and skin stinging after consumption; and long-term consumption of excessive benzoic acid will cause poor appetite and damage the liver. (Photo courtesy of New Taipei City Health Bureau)

Lin Guanzhen emphasized that hydrogen peroxide may cause irritation and skin stinging after consumption; and long-term excessive intake of benzoic acid will reduce appetite and damage the liver; in addition, some unscrupulous businesses will illegally add industrial pigment soap yellow to increase the color of dried tofu and make the product look better, but soap yellow is not allowed to be added to food according to regulations. If consumed in large quantities for a long time, it may cause liver cell damage and hepatitis.

The Department of Health also calls on consumers to choose merchants with good reputation and credit, avoid purchasing tofu products with bright or too white appearance, and soak or rinse them in plenty of water before cooking to avoid consuming excessive or illegal food additives to ensure their own safety.