Ginger shreds at Xiluo Fruit and Vegetable Market tested for sulfur dioxide exceeding the standard by 40 times, involving forged license numbers
In April, the Yunlin County Health Bureau conducted inspections of some shredded ginger manufacturers inside the Xiluo Fruit and Vegetable Market, randomly sampling 11 products including shredded ginger and soaking ginger water. Of these, 6 samples tested positive for excessive sulfur dioxide, and among them was one shredded ginger product whose operator claimed to use only ammonium alum and Baosemel yet still tested positive for excessive sulfur dioxide. Today, the Health Bureau, together with local prosecutors and investigation units, once again went to the Xiluo Fruit and Vegetable Market for an inspection, while also following the trail to the upstream shredded ginger supplier, "Tai Rong Industrial Materials Store in Chiayi City," to conduct an investigation.
Because shredded ginger oxidizes and turns yellow when left standing for a long time, operators often add sulfur dioxide bleach to keep the shredded ginger bright white. Lin Xiaoling, acting section chief of the Health Bureau, said that the current residue standard for sulfur dioxide is 0.030 g/kg, which is a very low limit, and it is very common for operators to be found exceeding it. The results of this sampling found that some samples had sulfur dioxide content as high as more than 1 gram (per kilogram), exceeding the standard by more than 40 times. Operators have now been required to remove the products from shelves and recall them.
Sulfur dioxide is a type of bleach. Shredded ginger with added sulfur dioxide is characterized by being brighter and whiter and having a more uniform color, completely different from natural shredded ginger, which turns yellow and darkens after oxidation. Lin Xiaoling said that if the public consumes large amounts over a long period, it is very likely to trigger respiratory problems such as asthma.
In addition, the April inspection also found that a certain operator used ammonium alum and Baosemel on shredded ginger products, yet still tested positive for excessive sulfur dioxide. In addition, a comparison of license numbers found that the license number for ammonium alum was actually the same as that for sulfur dioxide (whose food additive name is sodium metabisulfite). Lin Xiaoling admitted that it cannot be ruled out that the upstream supplier had already added sulfur dioxide when selling it.
The Health Bureau emphasized that the license number for a food additive is obtained by the manufacturer or importer after applying to the Ministry of Health and Welfare for registration and approval based on each individual product. One license number applies only to a single food additive, so the supplier is already involved in altering or forging license numbers.
Today, the Yunlin County Health Bureau dispatched 7 inspection teams, and together with personnel from the Yunlin District Prosecutors Office and the Seventh Special Police Corps of the National Police Agency of the Ministry of the Interior, went to the market for a large-scale inspection. At the same time, one team of health personnel was sent to the shredded ginger upstream supplier "Tai Rong Chemical Materials Store" in Chiayi City to gain an understanding. Today's market sampling also added 2 new items, ammonium alum and Baosemel, and the test report is expected to be released in as soon as 4 days.