Taiwan’s border inspectors intercepted Chinese dried chili peppers contaminated with Sudan Red, and Japanese strawberries exceeding pesticide limits. The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) on Tuesday disclosed that chili segments imported from China by Yuan Rich International CO., LTD. contained the industrial dye Sudan Red III, banned under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation. Officials destroyed the entire 11-metric-ton shipment at the border, thereby prohibiting its return to the supplier. 

TFDA North District Management Center Director Liu Fang-ming (劉芳銘) noted that from July 12, 2025, to January 12, 2026, the TFDA handled 58 batches of Chinese dried chili peppers for verification, with two failing at a 3.5% rejection rate due to pesticide residues and Sudan Red. As a result, the TFDA has mandated 100% border surveillance testing for Sudan Red on Chinese dried chili imports from January 7 this year to January 6 next year, allowing entry only for passing batches. 

Japanese strawberries imported by GreatHer Fruit Trading CO., LTD showed 0.19 ppm acetamiprid, surpassing the zero-tolerance threshold of 0.01 ppm under pesticide residue standards. All 166 kilograms faced return or destruction. 

Tong Shin Fruit CO., LTD.’s two Japanese honey mandarin batches registered 0.01 ppm and 0.02 ppm prohibited procymidone, prompting the disposal of nearly one metric ton. A 51.5-kilogram shipment of Japanese fresh melons from the same importer contained prohibited insecticide dinotefuran and was blocked from entering.