Consumer Protection Office: 5 packages of packaged asparagus juice sold in the market do not match the label

In the hot summer, it is the peak sales season for commercial beverages. In order to protect the rights of consumers, the Consumer Protection Office of the Executive Yuan announced the results of a sampling of packaged single-ingredient fruit juices on the market on the 21st. Among the 40 sampled products, five defective products, including "Jinjin Asparagus Juice", "Green Asparagus Juice", "Asparagus Juice", "QinQin Green Asparagus Juice", and "Uni-President Tomato Juice", were found to have "insufficient original juice content". They were suspected of inconsistent labeling and were fined between NT$30,000 and NT$150,000 in accordance with the Food Sanitation Management Act. The products were also required to be recalled, removed from shelves and destroyed to protect the rights of consumers.

Consumer Protection Officer Wang Deming (center) pointed out that five items, including "Uni-President Tomato Juice," were suspected of having labeling that did not comply with regulations. (Photo provided by Consumer Protection Department)

Consumer Protection Officer Wang Deming pointed out that in order to safeguard the rights of consumers, the Consumer Protection Office, together with the local government health bureau, collected 40 samples of packaged single-ingredient fruit juice on the market in November and December last year and sent them to the Food Industry Development Research Institute for testing on "formaldehyde nitrogen, ash content, soluble solids, titratable acidity and free amino acids as specified in CNS2377." The inspection results showed that 5 products did not comply with the food labeling regulations of the Food Sanitation Management Act. The local health authorities have been asked to notify the industry to recall and destroy the products.

After inspection by the Food Industry Institute, all products are found to be of qualified quality. However, there are five items of labeling that are suspected of not complying with regulations, namely, "Jinjin Asparagus Juice" and "Green Asparagus Juice" manufactured by Dongxiang Food Co., Ltd. under the commission of Helin Food Co., Ltd.; "Asparagus Juice" manufactured by Weiwang Co., Ltd.; "Qinqin Green Asparagus Juice" manufactured by Xingxin Food Industrial Co., Ltd.; and "Uni-President Tomato Juice" manufactured by Meida Food Industrial Co., Ltd. under the commission of Uni-President Enterprises Co., Ltd. In accordance with the provisions of Article 17, Paragraph 1 and Article 19, Paragraph 1 of the Food Sanitation Management Act, businesses will be required to remove all defective products from shelves, recall them, and destroy them.

Consumer Protection Officer Wang Deming reminded consumers that if a consumer dispute occurs, they can call the 1950 consumer service hotline, file a complaint with the local government consumer service center, or file an online complaint on the Executive Yuan website (www.cpc.ey.gov.tw) to protect their own rights and interests.