TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan stopped the import of 160 kilograms of chocolate from the United Arab Emirates after an inspection discovered excessive levels of preservatives, reports said Tuesday.

The product, labeled as “Kunafa Chocolate” and “Dubai Chocolate” under the brand name Vigo, was intercepted at the border and did not reach the domestic market, the Liberty Times reported. The Food and Drug Administration found 1.7 gram of dehydroacetic acid per kilogram in the chocolate, exceeding the legal maximum of 0.5 gram per kg.

One of the causes of the high level was that the unsalted butter used in the preparation of the chocolate also contained the same preservative, the report said. As a result of the find, between 20% and 50% of Vigo products will be targeted by food safety checks.

Recent border inspections by the Food and Drug Administration also turned up high levels of preservatives in dried peppers from Nigeria, pesticides in Chinese roses, heavy metals in fish products from Indonesia, and sulfur dioxide in French mustard. According to Taiwan regulations, the products either have to be returned to sender or destroyed.