Pesticide levels exceed limits in Japanese strawberries and Chilean cherries
On the 15th, the Food and Drug Administration announced a list of 6 border inspection failures, among them a Canadian-imported energy bar, "POWER CRUNCH Whey Protein Crisp Lemon Meringue Pie Flavor," which was found to have excessive sweetener; 69.12 kg was intercepted at the border and destroyed.
On the 15th, the latest list of border inspection failures was announced, with 6 items in total failing to meet regulations for pesticide residues or sweetener content, including 2 items of Chilean cherries, 2 items of Japanese fresh strawberries, 1 item of Chinese Pu'er tea, and 1 item of Canadian whey protein crisp energy bar.
Among them, Xincui Ji Co., Ltd. imported from Canada "POWER CRUNCH Whey Protein Crisp Lemon Meringue Pie Flavor" with a total weight of 69.12 kg, which was found to contain 2 types of sweeteners both belonging to the steviol glycoside category, with a combined amount of 0.057%. According to regulations, the permitted amount of steviol glycosides is 0.05% or below, so the limit standard has been exceeded.
The Food and Drug Administration, in a telephone joint interview with the media, stated that according to regulations this whey protein crisp energy bar may use sweeteners, but it must comply with the limit standards. In addition, it mentioned that this whey protein crisp energy bar had previously been imported as the same product, but this batch is the first recent detection of non-compliance. In addition to being returned or destroyed, the local health bureau will also be notified to investigate whether the same product sold on the market also has excessive sweetener levels.
In addition, Japanese fresh strawberries and Chilean cherries had repeatedly been found in the past to have excessive pesticide levels. This time, additional products failing to meet regulations for pesticide residues were detected, imported respectively by Shangjia Fruit Co., Ltd., Taiwan Xinguo International Co., Ltd., and Yuning Enterprise Co., Ltd.
Chen Qingyu said that among them, one company, Shangjia Fruit Co., Ltd., had 7 batches of imported Japanese fresh strawberries found to have excessive pesticide levels within half a year. In addition to returning or destroying the non-compliant products, the operator will also be required to submit a preventive improvement measures report.
Another item, Chinese Pu'er tea imported by Quanguo Tea Shop, was found to contain the pesticide indoxacarb at 0.02 ppm. Because it exceeded the limit standard, it will likewise be returned or destroyed according to regulations.