TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that its latest chocolate inspection found five businesses in violation of regulations.
More than 400 chocolate product labels were reviewed. Three products from two businesses were found non-compliant, per CNA.
Hung Bang Co. was fined NT$30,000 (US$912) for a product containing no cocoa-related ingredients, making it ineligible to be labeled chocolate. Tung Te Food Industry Co. was fined NT$50,000 for excessive vegetable oil content, which disqualified the product from being labeled chocolate.
Taiwan requires chocolate with less than 5% added vegetable oil to be labeled as such. These products must also be at least 25% chocolate and include terms like “contains filling” or “processed,” according to SGS.
V2cells Co., Schokolake's Gongguan factory, and I-Pin Cheese Cake Corp. were found storing expired food ingredients. Each was fined NT$60,000 under Article 15 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.
The FDA introduced draft regulations last year to strengthen cadmium control standards in chocolate, with plans for the regulations to take effect this year. The new rules will broaden oversight to include all types of chocolate and establish a cadmium limit for cocoa powder, per CNA.
Research has revealed that certain dark chocolate bars contain cadmium and lead. The two heavy metals are associated with various health risks, according to CR.
Long-term exposure to even small quantities of these metals can lead to various health problems for children and adults. The risks are especially significant for pregnant individuals and young children, as these metals can hinder brain development, cause developmental delays, and lower IQ.