February 7, 2024

 

Taisugar pork products clear of banned additive in Taiwan

Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture has announced that a repeat test on frozen pork products supplied by Taiwan Sugar Corp (Taisugar) revealed no traces of a banned leanness-enhancing additive, Taipei Times reported.

 

This announcement follows the Taichung Health Bureau's report last Friday, indicating the presence of 0.002 parts per million of cimbuterol, a prohibited beta-agonist, in Taisugar's frozen "Pork Boston Butt, Sliced," also known as "TSC Safety Pork."

 

Responding to the initial report, the ministry conducted thorough laboratory tests on swine blood serum, swine hair, and animal feed samples collected from the swine farm. The results were negative for beta-agonists, providing no evidence of the banned additive.

 

To confirm the testing outcome, the ministry proceeded to retest samples from the January 15, 2024 batch. The subsequent result revealed no presence of cimbuterol in the Taisugar pork product.

 

Following the Taichung bureau's notification, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Saturday its intention to conduct inspections related to the case. FDA inspections carried out at the meat processing factory involved in processing the batch of Taisugar pork products found no irregularities.

 

Regarding the frozen sliced pork butt product, FDA Deputy Director Lin Chin-fu clarified that Taisugar supplies the swine, while the slaughtering and slicing processes are commissioned to Pingtung-based Sings Kout Trading Co, overseen by Taisugar.

 

While the standard procedures were followed, the possibility of cross-contamination cannot be completely ruled out, prompting further inspections at the source, as stated by Lin.

 

Of the 2,730 bags of the pork product sold, 165 bags were recalled by yesterday morning.

 

Taisugar president Chen Li-jen emphasised the company's proactive measures, including immediate sample collection and testing by Taiwan's National Animal Industry Foundation, all of which yielded negative results for beta-agonists.

 

Taiwan Swine Association president Pan Lien-chou urged clarification from the Taichung Health Bureau regarding its testing methods, emphasising the negative test results at the swine farm. If re-examination confirms the absence of the banned additive, he urged an apology from the bureau for the harm caused to domestic swine farmers.

 

-        Taipei Times