TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday (Dec. 3) that nearly 160 kg of Vietnamese black pepper products containing Sudan dyes have been distributed in Taiwan.

An investigation found three of 43 batches failed safety inspections, with one batch still being tested. Authorities have ordered a recall of the affected products, per CNA.

Vietnamese pepper products have been flagged as a high-risk commodity, FDA Deputy Director-General Lin Chin-fu (林金富) said. In the FDA’s latest border inspection results released Wednesday, 500 kg of imported Vietnamese black peppercorns have been found to contain Sudan dyes, and have been destroyed or returned to Vietnam.

Sudan dyes, such as Sudan I, II, III, and IV, are industrial dyes primarily used to color non-food items like solvents, oils, waxes, shoe polish, and floor wax. Despite being banned for food use in many countries, including the EU, US, and Taiwan, Sudan dyes are sometimes illegally added to food to enhance color and reduce production costs, according to the Tainan Public Health Bureau and SGS Taiwan.

Two of the contaminated batches of the investigated products, totaling 480 kg, included black pepper granules and ground black pepper. About 130 kg had been distributed to nine businesses in six jurisdictions.

Authorities have recovered 53.6 kg. The remaining 351.7 kg have been quarantined.

Another batch of 90 kg of black pepper powder was contaminated. Authorities have seized the remaining 58.8 kg, while 31.2 kg have been sold and are currently being traced.

Last week, the FDA intercepted three batches of food products, totaling 1,436 kg, imported from China, South Africa, and Vietnam. These products, including chili resin, black peppercorns, and black pepper powder contained Sudan dyes.

The FDA has placed related products from these three countries under surveillance until November next year. The manufacturing plants involved are permanently banned from importing into Taiwan.