50 Lan Crispy Plum Exceeds Sulfur Dioxide Preservative Limit; Related Products Have Been Discontinued and Recalled

Just as the bubble tea storm had barely ended, the "crisp plum" used by 50 Lan in Taitung was found by the Taitung County Health Bureau to contain 0.138 ppm of sulfur dioxide (standard 0.1 ppm). An investigation traced the crisp plums to the Third Fruit Production and Marketing Group of Nanxi District, Tainan City. The operator has now stopped selling the related products and promised to remove and recall the problematic products by the 15th.

The Tainan City Government Health Bureau today (12th) received a notification from the Taitung County Health Bureau, finding that the "crisp plum" used by 50 Lan in Taitung for its "8 Ice Green" and "Plum Green Tea" tested positive for 0.138 ppm of sulfur dioxide (standard 0.1 ppm). The 50 Lan company has already stopped manufacturing and selling products related to crisp plum as of the 10th, and promised to recall the products from 500 downstream stores by the 15th.
According to an investigation by the Tainan City Health Bureau, the "crisp plum" came from the Third Fruit Production and Marketing Group of Nanxi District. The production and marketing group stated that this batch of crisp plums was supplied only to 50 Lan, and there is currently no other stock in the warehouse; the Health Bureau will conduct spot checks on other batches of crisp plums.
In preserved fruit foods, sulfites are a common type of preservative; because sulfites produce sulfur dioxide after use, they can prevent food ingredients from browning and at the same time extend the shelf life of food, but long-term intake can cause asthma and allergies.
The Tainan City Government Health Bureau stated that violating the "Standards for the Scope and Amount of Use of Food Additives" can result in a fine of 3 to 3 million yuan under the "Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation", and urged operators to use food additives legally.