Consumers' Foundation presents test report to counter Hualien County Government: admits some Fuli rice has residue

In response to the Consumers' Foundation's recent detection of pesticide residues in Hualien Fuli organic rice, the Hualien County Government hit back with a declaration of "zero detection". The Consumers' Foundation today released its test report: Fuli organic rice is the only product claiming to be organic that still had pesticide residues detected, and its residue levels were even higher than those of conventionally farmed rice. Although the Hualien County Government admits there may be problems with some of it and says further verification is needed, it still intends to sue the Consumers' Foundation.

Pesticide Residue Levels: Fuli Organic Rice Higher Than Conventional Brown Rice

Hsieh Tien-jen, honorary chairman of the Consumers' Foundation, today called on the Hualien County Government to "stop smearing" and to devote its energy to investigating the blind spots where pesticide residues may occur and to actively prevent pesticide use or contamination. "The Consumers' Foundation is a private non-profit organization; it has never been possible for us to maliciously attack any brand or farmer. We are like someone who hates to see iron fail to become steel!"

Hsieh Tien-jen stressed that the price of Fuli organic rice is far higher than ordinary brown rice sold on the market; consumers pay a high price yet eat food with pesticide residue levels higher than ordinary brown rice. "How can consumers bear this?"

Lei Li-fen, secretary-general of the Consumers' Foundation, presented a test report from Germany's Duf Rhein, saying that the Consumers' Foundation sent the packaged Fuli organic rice from the second crop of the 101st year, already on the market, for testing and detected a carbaryl residue level of 0.11 ppm. Although this did not exceed the announced tolerance standard for rice of 0.5 ppm, it was higher than that of ordinary brown rice not marketed as organic, and far above the method detection limit of 0.01 ppm achievable in the laboratory, so it cannot be explained away as a trace residue.

"Moreover, since it claims to be organic rice, it should be . We tested a total of 20 samples of brown rice sold on the market: among them, 7 samples tested positive for carbaryl residues. Fuli rice is not only the only organic brand, but also had the highest residue level among the 7." Lei Li-fen stressed that the other organic rice samples showed no pesticide residues; this is the quality standard organic rice should have. "We hope the Hualien County Government will retract its false accusations against the Consumers' Foundation and apologize."