Imported cabbage not labeled with country of origin: Top supermarket chain dinghao exposed by reader tip

At the supermarket, the cabbage on sale had the first word crossed out. On closer inspection, the crossed-out word turned out to be "Korean." So where did the cabbage with "Korean" crossed out actually come from? Anyone who assumes from this that it is locally grown cabbage is likely to be disappointed. This newspaper received a reader submission claiming that the cabbage at the Dinghao store on Xinsheng South Road in Taipei City appeared to be mislabeled. When asked, Dinghao Supermarket said that all the cabbage sold in its stores comes from Thailand, calling it an oversight in labeling and promising to tighten management.

Heavy Rain and Typhoons Cut Cabbage Yields

A further investigation by the reporter found that, because Taiwan's output was affected by the climate, 28% of cabbage is imported. Huang Meihua, deputy director-general of the Agriculture and Food Agency, said that this year heavy rain and typhoons beginning in May caused damage in production areas, which is why large quantities were imported to make up for the market shortfall.

Huang Meihua also said that locally grown cabbage, whether the early-autumn type or improved varieties, has a sweet, crisp texture and high palatability, and is extremely popular with people in the country, whereas imported cabbage has a firm texture and insufficient sweetness. In ordinary years with favorable weather, domestically grown cabbage is enough to meet demand.

Huang Meihua said that since Taiwan, China joined the WTO in 2002 and opened up agricultural imports, only cabbage from China has been barred from import. Comparing cabbage imports from January to August last year with the same period this year, the figure was 3,460 metric tons last year and 36,783 metric tons this year, a 10-fold difference. Looking at trading volume, at the Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Corporation in August-September, imports accounted for 1% and 28% of cabbage market trades last year and this year respectively, an even larger gap. As for price, imported cabbage is 10.7 yuan per kilogram, while Taiwan-grown early-autumn cabbage is 33.7 yuan and improved varieties 18.9 yuan.

Under these circumstances, the share of imported cabbage eaten is quite high. Not to mention at hypermarkets, even cabbage sold by vendors at traditional markets, where sources need not be labeled, may be imported. Consumers can ask a little when buying. As for whether imported cabbage will affect food security, Huang Meihua said food security is calculated in terms of calories, and cabbage produces relatively few calories, so it will not affect food security.

Loose Vegetables Without Source Labels Can Draw Penalties

As for Dinghao Supermarket failing to label imported Thai cabbage, the Nutrition Division of the Food and Drug Administration under the Department of Health said that under the law, food labeling is divided into general complete packaging and loose items, and for loose items, companies and sales venues are required to indicate the product name and place of origin. Fresh vegetables generally fall under loose items. Under Article 17 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, for required labeling that is missing, besides ordering improvement within a deadline, the responsible party may be fined 30,000-150,000 yuan; under Article 19, for false labeling, the responsible party may be fined 40,000-200,000 yuan. Discretion rests with the local health bureau.

However, labeling can also be done with a sign or standee in the store, without individual labels. The Food and Drug Administration said that whether a store labels truthfully can be checked by requiring the vendor to provide supporting evidence.

※ Also published at Environmental Information Center