TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei’s Department of Health has ordered the removal of 18 types of fresh fruits and vegetables from shelves due to excessive pesticide residue, according to September test results released Friday (Nov. 1).
Coriander, one of the most common culinary herbs in Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisine, was among the produce found to exceed permitted pesticide limits. Some coriander samples from Huannan Market and a major supermarket tested positive for nine different types of pesticides.
Other produce affected include scallion, bok choy, celery, white radish, basil, canola, cucumber, green bean, and hot pepper. These items contained up to nine types of pesticide residues and were categorized as high-risk agricultural products.
High-risk agricultural products are identified based on historical market data and initial field inspections. These products are then prioritized for increased testing in the following year's monitoring plan to remove substandard items from the supply chain.
Repeated violations of food regulations can result in penalties, including temporary or permanent bans on supplying specific products. Consumers are advised to keep transaction receipts when purchasing fruits and vegetables. The health department also recommended taking photos of product packaging, including information such as the manufacturer's name and supply code, to aid in tracing the source of contaminated produce.
Selling non-compliant products violates the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, which carries fines ranging from NT$60,000 (US$1879) to NT$200 million. If the source of the contamination remains unknown, the seller could face fines ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$3 million.
