Korean oysters are contaminated. Health Department: Currently conducting batch-by-batch inspections

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that monitoring has found that Korean aquatic products are contaminated with norovirus and imports are currently suspended. Taiwan's Department of Health said that it will not follow up immediately, but due to the news that people at "Food Paradise" were suspected of food poisoning after eating oysters, Korean oysters on the market have been recalled, and from the 9th, each batch of oysters and shellfish imported from South Korea will be inspected and tested for norovirus. They will only be released after confirming that they are not contaminated.

Tsai Shu-chen, director of the Food Division of the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health, said that the information currently available shows that the United States has suspended the import of Korean aquatic products because it discovered during market monitoring that Korean oysters may contain norovirus. This is because it violates the trade agreement between the United States and South Korea, but is the entire country contaminated? Where are the suspected contaminated products supplied? In addition to asking the US side to ask its representative in South Korea to assist in understanding China.

62 people in Taipei City were reported to have suffered from food poisoning a few days ago, with the culprit being oysters from "Food Paradise". The samples have not yet been tested, but the Department of Health took preventive measures on the 8th to track the flow of Korean oysters into the country and to recover all remaining supplies on the market. According to statistics, about 120,000 kilograms of Korean oysters have been imported since April, and a total of 110,000 oysters and more than 7,000 boxes have been sealed.

In addition, since oysters and shellfish are farmed in the same area, the border conducts the most stringent batch-by-batch inspection on these Korean aquatic products. In addition to routine tests such as E. coli, an additional test for norovirus is also conducted. So far, no Korean oysters have been imported, and only a batch of 100 kilograms of Korean clams has been reported and is undergoing the inspection process.

The Department of Health pointed out that in response to the suspected contamination of Korean aquatic products, countries including Japan and Canada are currently increasing the proportion of random inspections. Tsai Shu-zhen said that Korean oysters are not currently consumed in China, and batch-by-batch inspection measures will continue. At the same time, further information will be obtained on the contamination of Korean aquatic products by norovirus. If it is confirmed that Korean waters are contaminated, the import of Korean oysters and shellfish cannot be ruled out.